Slightly Higher Decline in Women Voters than Men in Bengal Polls
Synopsis
The recent voter statistics in West Bengal reveal a noteworthy trend: the decline in female voters outpaces that of male voters. This shift follows a thorough revision of the voters’ list, marking a first since 2011.
Key Takeaways
Female voter decline is 3.8% , slightly higher than male decline at 3.5% .
Overall voter decrease totals 2,565,692 across categories.
2026 marks the first decline in voters since 2011 .
Political analysts suggest a lack of removal of outdated voter entries.
Significant implications for future voter engagement and representation.
Kolkata, April 18 (NationPress) The reduction in the count of female voters in West Bengal's current voters’ list is slightly more pronounced than the comparable drop among male voters, following the conclusion of the state’s special intensive revision exercise.
Additionally, the count of other/transgender voters in the current list also reveals a slight decrease, although the percentage drop in this category is substantially greater.
According to data from the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, the draft voters’ list published in December last year recorded 34,615,837 female voters, which has decreased to 33,314,628 in the present list. This reflects a drop of 1,301,209 in actual figures and a 3.8% percentage decline.
Conversely, the number of male voters in the draft voters’ list was 36,199,391, which has reduced to 34,935,123, showing a decrease of 1,264,268 in actual numbers, resulting in a 3.5% percentage drop.
In the draft voters’ list, the count of other/transgender voters was 1,402, which fell to 1,257 in the current list, leading to a decline of 145 voters and a 10.3% percentage-point decrease.
The overall decline across all categories in the current voters’ list, when compared to the draft, amounts to 2,565,692, equating to a 3.6% decline.
Notably, according to the Chief Electoral Officer’s statistics, 2026 marks the first recorded decline in voter numbers in West Bengal after a consistent increase since 2011, the year that saw the end of a 34-year Left Front government and the commencement of governance by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
Political analysts suggest that the consistent rise in voter numbers from 2011 to 2024 indicates that while new and first-time voters continued to be added, there was no corresponding removal of voters categorized as “deceased”, “moved away”, “missing”, or “duplicate” from the rolls.
Point of View
The observed decline in voter numbers, particularly among women, prompts critical discussions about voter engagement and representation. This shift, which deviates from the increasing trend seen over the last decade, warrants attention from policymakers and electoral officials alike.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current trend in voter demographics in West Bengal?
The current trend shows a slight decline in female voters, which is marginally higher than the decline among male voters as per the latest electoral statistics.
How significant is the decline in the number of voters?
The total decline across all categories in the current voters’ list is 2,565,692, representing a 3.6% decrease compared to the draft voters’ list.
What does the voter decline indicate?
The decline indicates a potential shift in voter engagement and could reflect issues such as unremoved deceased or duplicate voters from the electoral rolls.
How does this decline compare to previous years?
This marks the first decline in voter numbers in West Bengal since 2011, breaking a continuous increase trend observed over the last decade.
What categories of voters are affected by this decline?
The decline affects all categories: female, male, and other/transgender voters, with notable shifts in their respective counts.
