In a significant development for West Bengal's electoral landscape, the Election Commission (EC) has reported receiving a substantial influx of applications from citizens seeking to enroll as new voters. Following the publication of the draft Summary Revision (SIR) electoral roll, approximately 7.4 lakh Form 6 and Form 6A submissions have been recorded, highlighting active public participation in the democratic process.
Detailed Breakdown of Application Figures
A senior official from the Election Commission disclosed precise statistics on Monday, shedding light on the volume of applications processed during a specific period. From December 17, 2025, to January 19, 2026, the commission received a total of 7,44,277 Form 6 and Form 6A applications, submitted both online and offline. These forms are crucial for individuals aiming to register as new electors in the state.
In addition to new enrollments, the commission also handled other types of applications. During the same timeframe, 31,207 Form 7 applications were received, which are used to request the deletion of names from the electoral roll due to reasons such as death or change of address. Furthermore, 3,44,690 Form 8 applications were submitted, pertaining to updates for Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), including replacements or markings for Persons with Disabilities.
Hearing Exercise and Super-Checking Procedures
The official provided insights into the ongoing hearing exercise, noting that it is in its final stages and is expected to be completed in most districts within three to four days. However, he mentioned that districts like Malda, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas might require additional time, potentially extending beyond this window for all hearings to conclude.
Simultaneously, a rigorous super-checking process has been initiated by District Election Officers (DEOs), Roll Observers, Special Roll Observers, and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). This involves a thorough examination of the digital trail of all documents uploaded into the system, inputs made by Municipal Officers (MOs) and Registration Officers (ROs), and disposals handled by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs).
Importantly, the official clarified that during this super-checking, DEOs and observers do not have the authority to delete any voters' names directly. Their role is limited to identifying and reporting any anomalies to the EROs, who hold the appropriate authority for additions and deletions as per established rules. The EC has emphasized its commitment to ensuring that no eligible voter is excluded from the electoral rolls through this meticulous verification process.
Context from Draft SIR Roll and Infrastructure Updates
The draft SIR roll, published on December 16, revealed that over 58 lakh electors' names were deleted from West Bengal's voter list, indicating a major revision effort. This has been coupled with infrastructural enhancements, as the state now boasts 80,681 polling booths, with plans to increase this number by approximately 14,000 to accommodate the evolving electoral dynamics.
This comprehensive update underscores the EC's proactive measures to maintain accurate and inclusive voter rolls in West Bengal, fostering transparency and efficiency in the lead-up to future elections.
