The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls began in West Bengal on Tuesday, with the Election Commission revealing that only 32.06 per cent of the total voters' names in the 2025 roll matched with the 2002 list. Out of 7,66,37,529 voters on the current roll, just 2,45,71,114 names matched the previous SIR list. This matching-mapping exercise compared voter data from 2002, when the last SIR was conducted in the state, with the 2025 list. Over 80,000 Booth-Level Officers began door-to-door surveys distributing enumeration forms. The process aims to update electoral rolls comprehensively across all districts. Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharati, who visited West Bengal after Durga Puja, directed district magistrates to complete the matching process before the SIR rollout. A review team will inspect the state from November 5 to 8 to monitor the exercise.
District-wise Matching Results Show Wide Variation
Three districts recorded the lowest matching percentages: South Kolkata (35 per cent), Howrah (38 per cent), and Paschim Bardhaman (31 per cent). In contrast, Bankura achieved the highest match at 79 per cent, followed by Purba Bardhaman (73 per cent), Kalimpong (65 per cent), and Purulia (63 per cent). Border districts with Bangladesh showed varying results: Malda recorded 54 per cent, Murshidabad 56 per cent, South 24 Parganas 45 per cent, and North 24 Parganas 41 per cent. North Bengal border districts included Cooch Behar at 48 per cent, Alipurduar 54 per cent, Uttar Dinajpur 44 per cent, and Dakshin Dinajpur 55 per cent. South Bengal districts like Birbhum matched 53 per cent, Hooghly 56 per cent, and Jhargram 51 per cent. Data for Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri was unavailable due to recent
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