Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to publish the draft electoral rolls for West Bengal today, December 16, 2025, marking the end of the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' lists, which began on November 4. This comprehensive exercise is crucial for ensuring an accurate and up-to-date electoral roll ahead of upcoming elections. Simultaneously, draft voter lists for Rajasthan, Goa, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep are also scheduled for release.
The draft electoral rolls will be accessible to the public through both online and offline channels, according to the ECI. Voters can check their names and other details on the Commission's website (eci.gov.in) or the official website of West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (ceowestbengal.gov.in). To search online, individuals can use their name and Elector's Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number. For those who prefer offline verification, copies of the draft rolls will be available with the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at each polling booth. Assistance can also be sought from Booth Level Assistants (BLAs) appointed by political parties.
The publication of the draft rolls initiates the second phase of the SIR, during which the Electoral Registration Officers will entertain claims and objections regarding the entries. The period for filing claims and objections will be open from December 16, 2025, to January 15, 2026. A notice period for hearing and verification will follow, lasting until February 7, 2026. The final electoral rolls, incorporating all valid updates and corrections, are scheduled for publication on February 14, 2026.
According to sources within the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (WBCEO) office, the draft rolls were meticulously prepared through a four-step process: distribution, submission, digitalization, and data analysis of enumeration forms (EFs). All data related to the EFs have been uploaded on the Booth Level Officer (BLO) app over the past few days. During the SIR exercise, 7,08,16,631 voters have been included in the draft rolls. It is important to note that as of January 2025, the electoral roll had 7,66,37,529 voters. During the revision process, 58,20,898 voters—including those who were deceased, duplicate, permanently shifted, or absent—have been removed. A separate list of names that have been removed from the rolls will also be published.
For individuals whose names are missing from the draft electoral rolls, they can submit Form 6 along with Annexure-IV to the Booth Level Officer (BLO). This can be done at the BLO's office or online through the website voters.eci.gov.in or via the E-NET App. Those who are unable to match their names with their kin in the 2002 electoral rolls, when the last SIR was carried out in Bengal, will be asked to attend a hearing by the commission. Electors wanting to include their names will need to explain why their names could not be linked and provide proof of Indian citizenship and voting eligibility. Acceptable documents include an identity card as a state or central government employee or pension holder, birth certificate, passport, Madhyamik certificate, residential certificate issued by the state government, forest right certificate, caste certificate, family register by local administration, land allotment or house allotment certificate issued by the government, or any document from before 1987 provided by a post office, bank, Life Insurance Corporation, or local authority.
The ECI has encouraged new electors to fill out Form 6 along with the Declaration and submit them to the BLOs or fill the Form and Declaration online using the ECINet App/website https://voters.eci.gov.in/ to get their names included in the Final Electoral Rolls. The electoral body has directed Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Electoral Officers (DEOs) to share hard copies of the draft rolls with all recognised political parties to ensure transparency in the process.
