Over 1.1 Lakh Voters in West Bengal Risk Exclusion from Electoral Roll Due to Unuploaded Documents
In a significant development affecting voter rights in West Bengal, documents submitted by approximately 1.1 lakh voters during the Summary Revision (SIR) hearings, which concluded on February 14, have not been uploaded to the official database as of Tuesday, according to Election Commission (EC) officials. This administrative lapse could lead to the exclusion of these voters from the final electoral roll, scheduled for publication on February 28, unless urgent appeals are made.
Procedural Hurdles and Voter Appeals
EC officials clarified that if the names of these voters are omitted from the final roll, affected individuals must first appeal to the District Election Officer (DEO) and subsequently to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to seek inclusion. However, officials did not address queries regarding why citizens should bear the brunt of bureaucratic delays, raising concerns about accountability within the electoral process.
This group of over one lakh voters will now join the list of 2,43,940 ineligible voters identified as of Tuesday, further swelling the numbers of those potentially disenfranchised. Their names will be excluded from the final electoral roll unless corrective measures are taken promptly.
EC Norms and Official Accountability
A senior EC official emphasized that according to established norms, if documents are not uploaded after a hearing, the concerned person's name will not be included in the electoral roll. The official stated, "If the affected person files a complaint against the concerned Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), the EC will take action against the officials after an inquiry." This highlights a mechanism for redressal, though it places the onus on voters to initiate complaints.
Another official outlined the appeal process: "Electors whose names are missing from the final roll, even after attending hearings and submitting documents, can apply to the concerned District Magistrate (DM) or DEO within five days of the publication of the final list. After receiving the applications, the DM/DEO will call them for a hearing. If the issue is not resolved in five days, the applicant can apply to the CEO." This multi-step procedure aims to address grievances but may prove cumbersome for many voters.
District-Wise Breakdown of Pending Uploads
The hearing phase of Bengal's SIR process concluded on February 14, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) halting document uploads immediately after midnight as per the set timeline. Verification and final disposal of cases are currently underway. Records indicate that documents for 1,14,772 voters remain unuploaded as of Tuesday, with significant variations across districts:
- North 24 Parganas: 20,707 pending documents
- North Kolkata: 15,031 pending documents
- Cooch Behar: 10,479 pending documents
- South Dinajpur: 10,285 pending documents
- Howrah: 10,499 pending documents
Additionally, districts such as Darjeeling, Hooghly, and South 24 Parganas each have over 5,000 documents awaiting upload. In contrast, no uploads are pending in Malda, Jhargram, and Kalimpong, indicating regional disparities in administrative efficiency.
Implications for Democratic Participation
This situation underscores critical challenges in the electoral process, where procedural delays could disenfranchise a substantial number of voters. The high numbers in key districts like North 24 Parganas and North Kolkata suggest potential impacts on local election dynamics. Voters are urged to stay vigilant and follow the appeal process to ensure their inclusion, while questions linger about the EC's ability to manage such large-scale administrative tasks effectively.
