Nov 27, 2025, New Delhi

The Election Commission of India (EC) has reported that nearly 26 lakh voter names in West Bengal’s current electoral roll do not match the voter list compiled in 2002. This finding came after officials completed the digitisation of more than six crore enumeration forms as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which aims to verify and update voter records across the state.

During the mapping exercise, the latest voter list was cross-checked against records from the 2002–2006 SIR cycle. Officials said that around 26 lakh names could not yet be reconciled with previous records. While this may sound alarming, the EC clarified that a mismatch does not automatically remove a voter from the final electoral roll. Voters whose names do not match will be asked to submit valid identification or proof of residency before final inclusion.

Authorities noted that discrepancies may have arisen due to migration between states, changes in names or addresses, or families who originally registered in other states and later moved to West Bengal. To ensure accuracy, this year’s mapping also compared West Bengal’s records with voter lists from other states, making the verification process more comprehensive.

The EC emphasized that public participation is crucial to maintain a clean and accurate voter list. Eligible citizens whose names are unmatched are encouraged to provide documentation promptly, ensuring they remain part of the electoral process ahead of upcoming elections. The commission expects the number of discrepancies to rise slightly as digitisation and verification continue.

26 Lakh Voter Names in Bengal Electoral Roll Don’t Match 2002 List, EC Reveals

The Election Commission of India (EC) has revealed that nearly 26 lakh names in West Bengal’s current electoral roll do not match the voter list of 2002. This discovery came after more than six crore enumeration forms were digitised as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which aims to verify and update voter records across the state. The mapping exercise compared the latest voter lists with records from 2002–2006, and the preliminary findings show a large number of entries could not be reconciled.

The EC clarified that mismatched names do not mean automatic removal from the voter list. Citizens whose records do not match will need to provide valid identification or proof of residency to ensure their inclusion in the final rolls. Officials explained that discrepancies could be due to migration, changes in names or addresses, or families who moved from other states to West Bengal. To make the process more accurate, this year’s mapping also included voter lists from other states.

Authorities emphasized that public participation is key to maintaining accurate electoral rolls. Eligible voters are encouraged to check their names and provide documentation if needed. The number of unmatched entries may rise slightly as digitisation and verification continue, but the goal remains to ensure a clean, accurate, and inclusive voter list ahead of upcoming elections.