26 Lakh Voter Discrepancy in West Bengal’s EC Rolls Compared to 2002 Data

Nearly 26 lakh voter names in West Bengal’s current electoral rolls do not match entries from the 2002 voter list, an Election Commission official said on Wednesday. 

The inconsistencies emerged after the state’s updated rolls were compared with voter lists prepared across multiple states between 2002 and 2006 during the last Special Summary Revision (SIR) cycle.

The discrepancy emerged after the state’s latest voter list was compared with the those prepared across different states between 2002 and 2006 during the previous SIR exercise 

According to EC sources, more than six crore enumeration forms from West Bengal had been digitised by Wednesday afternoon as part of the ongoing SIR process.

 “After digitisation, each form undergoes a mapping procedure in which the latest entries are matched with the previous SIR records. Initial results show that around 26 lakh names cannot yet be reconciled with the earlier data,” the official told PTI, adding that the number could rise as the digitisation continues.

“Mapping” refers to the cross-verification of the newly updated voter list with the rolls last compiled in 2002. 

This year, the Chief Electoral Officer has expanded the exercise to include voter rolls from other states as well, aiming for a more comprehensive and accurate verification.

The official emphasised that a mismatch at this stage does not mean automatic deletion from the electoral roll. Any final decision would follow further scrutiny and field verification, he said.

ECI announced the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision in 12 states and Union Territories, including West Bengal.

In Bihar, the SIR process has sparked major backlash over the deletion of 65 lakh voters from the draft electoral roll published on August 1, 2025. 

Out of 7.89 crore total electors, the draft listed only 7.24 crore, prompting Supreme Court intervention and accusations of arbitrary removals targeting marginalized groups.

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