Will ECI Publish a Separate Voter List for Incomplete Forms?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The ECI will publish a separate list for voters with incomplete forms.
- The SIR exercise begins on November 4 and will unfold in three phases.
- The draft list will be released on December 9.
- Political parties and individuals can contest the draft list in the second phase.
- The final voters’ list is set to be published by March 2026.
Kolkata, Nov 1 (NationPress) — As the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal is set to commence on November 4, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared plans to release a distinct list of voters whose completed enumeration forms fail to arrive at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) within the required timeframe.
An official mentioned that the draft voters' list is slated for publication on December 9.
“Prior to the list's release, the commission will unveil the names of individuals whose forms remain unsubmitted, classifying them as either deceased, fraudulent, or relocated voters,” the official noted.
This initiative seeks to eliminate any confusion regarding the exclusion of legitimate voters from the draft list.
The decision emerges amidst escalating political tensions in the state, with the ruling Trinamool Congress issuing warnings of widespread protests if any rightful voter is excluded during the revision.
The revision will unfold in three stages. In the initial phase starting November 4, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit homes to distribute and collect enumeration forms. The draft list will be published following this phase.
The second phase will permit political parties and individual voters to contest or amend the draft list, which the commission will evaluate.
The final phase will see Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) addressing the complaints, after which the ultimate voters' list will be published.
The entire process is anticipated to be completed by March 2026. The last SIR in West Bengal took place in 2002.