West Bengal’s 2002 Voter List Discrepancies Uncovered Amid Electoral Roll Revision
As West Bengal prepares for the 2026 state assembly elections, significant issues have emerged concerning the 2002 voter lists, which serve as the foundation for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Missing Voter Lists in Key Constituencies
In August 2025, the Election Commission of India (ECI) reported that the 2002 voter lists for several assembly constituencies were missing. Notably, the entire Kulpi Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district lacked its booth-wise voter rolls from that year. Similar issues were identified in constituencies across Birbhum, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas districts. In response, the ECI considered using the 2003 draft voter list, originally based on the 2002 records, as a substitute for the revision process.
Significant Mismatch in Voter Records
By October 2025, the voter mapping exercise revealed that approximately 45% of names in the current electoral roll did not appear in the 2002 list. District-wise analysis showed East Midnapore with the highest match rate at 68%, while West Burdwan had the lowest at 40%. These discrepancies highlight substantial demographic and migratory shifts over the past two decades.
Progress in Data Verification
Despite these challenges, election officials successfully matched nearly 3.5 crore voter records with the 2002 data by mid-October 2025. This effort aims to streamline the voter list and ensure accuracy ahead of the upcoming elections. However, districts like Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri faced delays due to recent natural calamities, affecting the completion of the data-matching process.
Next Steps in the Revision Process
The ECI has uploaded the 2002 electoral roll on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website, allowing public access and scrutiny. Booth Level Officers are conducting door-to-door verifications to address the identified discrepancies. The upcoming SIR will involve field verification, data updates, and public objections to finalize a clean and accurate roll ahead of the 2026 polls.
