KOLKATA, January 2, 2026 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a stern warning, stating that strict action will be taken against Booth Level Officers (BLOs) if any voter aged 85 or above, or any sick or disabled elector, is summoned for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing in West Bengal. This directive comes amid growing concerns and outrage regarding elderly and ailing voters being called for these hearings.
The SIR process, a "de novo" verification exercise, is designed to purify the voter registry ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections. Unlike annual summary revisions, the SIR is a foundational reset of the electoral rolls. The current revision aims to address discrepancies and ensure the accuracy of the voter list. The draft electoral rolls, published on December 16, 2025, revealed the deletion of over 58 lakh names due to various reasons, including death, migration, and failure to submit enumeration forms. Following the draft roll publication, the SIR process focuses on hearings for three categories of voters: unmapped voters, those with logical discrepancies in their data, and those with claims or objections.
The ECI has explicitly directed that electors aged 85 years and above, as well as persons with disabilities exceeding 40% benchmark disability, are not required to attend the hearing camps. Verification for these individuals is to be conducted at their residences. Officials, including BLOs and AEROs (Assistant Electoral Registration Officers), are mandated to visit the elector's residence to capture photographs, verify documents, and record the necessary information.
Despite these clear instructions, reports have emerged of notices being automatically generated, summoning elderly voters to the camps, causing distress and confusion. The ECI's latest warning underscores its commitment to ensuring a smooth and accessible revision process for all eligible voters, particularly the most vulnerable. The Additional Chief Electoral Officer has instructed all District Magistrates to ensure that electors aged 85 years and above, as well as those ailing and persons with disabilities, are not required to appear in person.
Hearings for the SIR began in West Bengal on December 27, 2025. In the initial phase, approximately 32 lakh 'unmapped' voters, defined as those unable to establish a connection with the 2002 electoral roll, are being called for hearings. To ensure transparency and neutrality, the ECI has deployed approximately 4,500 micro-observers to oversee the hearing process. These observers monitor the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and AEROs, ensuring that no voter is turned away without a hearing and that document verification adheres to strict ECI protocols.
The SIR hearings are being conducted across 3,234 centers in West Bengal. Voters are permitted to submit any of 12 recognized documents, including Aadhaar, as proof of identity and address. However, it has been clarified that an Aadhaar card will not be accepted as a standalone document.
The ECI's intervention highlights the importance of adhering to established protocols and ensuring that vulnerable populations are not unduly burdened during the electoral roll revision process. The commission's warning serves as a reminder to all involved in the SIR process to prioritize accessibility and provide necessary accommodations to elderly and disabled voters.
