Election – Document Review Delays Raise Doubts Over Voter List Deadline
Election – The process of reviewing voter documents in West Bengal has slowed as district authorities work through a large number of pending cases ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
With only three days remaining before the deadline for scrutinising documents submitted during hearings on claims and objections to the draft electoral roll, nearly 20 lakh voter records are still awaiting re-verification by District Magistrates, who also serve as District Electoral Officers.
Majority of Pending Cases Linked to Discrepancies
Officials at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in West Bengal indicated that most of the pending files fall under what they described as “logical discrepancy” cases. During routine checks, micro-observers flagged inconsistencies in several submissions.
According to sources, the documents provided by these voters did not align with the 13 identity proofs recognised by the Election Commission of India as valid. Following the observers’ recommendations, the files were returned to the respective District Electoral Officers for another round of verification. The Commission has instructed district authorities to complete this process promptly and submit their reports without delay.
Upload Delays Add to Administrative Pressure
In addition to the re-verification backlog, officials revealed that approximately 1.14 lakh documents collected during the hearing phase have yet to be uploaded to the system. As a result, scrutiny of those applications has not even begun.
The combination of unresolved discrepancies and pending uploads has raised concerns within the electoral administration about meeting the current deadline of February 21 for completing the review process. Sources suggested that an extension cannot be ruled out. If the timeline is revised again, it could also affect the scheduled publication of the final electoral roll.
Final Voter List Publication Already Deferred Once
Under the existing plan, the final voters’ list is set to be released on February 28. This date was earlier shifted from February 14 to allow additional time for processing claims and objections.
Election officials have been under pressure to ensure accuracy and transparency in the revision exercise, especially as preparations intensify for the Assembly elections later this year. Any further delay in completing the scrutiny could compress the time available for other pre-election formalities.
Commission’s Visit and Poll Announcement Expected Soon
A full bench of the Election Commission is scheduled to visit West Bengal on March 1 for a two-day review. The visit is intended to assess the administrative and logistical readiness following the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Soon after this assessment, the Commission is expected to announce the polling schedule for the upcoming state elections.
This year, there is discussion within election circles about conducting the polls in fewer phases compared to previous elections. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer has reportedly recommended holding the election in a single phase, though the final decision rests with the Commission.
Possibility of Single-Phase Voting
West Bengal has witnessed multi-phase elections in recent years, largely due to security and logistical considerations. However, officials believe that a streamlined approach may be feasible this time. The last occasion when the state conducted its Assembly elections in a single phase was in 2001.
While administrative preparations continue, the immediate focus remains on clearing the backlog of voter document verifications. Ensuring that the final electoral roll is accurate and up to date is considered essential before the formal election process moves into its next stage.