The Indus Zone Tech Desk | Kolkata, November 6, 2025 — As West Bengal’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls begins, booth-level officers (BLOs) are facing multiple challenges on the ground. From locked homes to bedridden citizens and permanently relocated voters, the verification process in Kolkata’s Behala area has turned out to be far more complicated than expected.
The door-to-door verification drive, which began on Tuesday, will continue till December 4, 2025. BLOs across the state are responsible for confirming voter details, adding new electors, and deleting names of those who have moved or passed away.
Ground Reality: Locked Homes and Absent Voters
On Wednesday morning, BLO Soumi Saha Barua, a schoolteacher assigned to Ward 126 in Behala Bakultala, began her field visits. Her experience highlighted the practical challenges of revising Bengal’s voter list.
At one of the houses, she found the doors locked. A tenant in another section of the building informed her that the landlady was not willing to talk. Maintaining her composure, Saha Barua said, “Please tell her that I am on government duty.”
After some persistence, the tenant shared the homeowner’s phone number. Speaking over the call, the officer learned that the woman was currently in Delhi and planned to return before December 3 to sign the enumeration form.
Following official protocol, the BLO pasted a notice on the window of the house and slid the voter enumeration form through a small slit underneath. The notice clearly stated that she had visited the house but found it locked, and that she would make at least three visits — the last one scheduled for December 3 — to collect the filled-up form.
If the resident remains unavailable, the matter will be reported to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
Human Stories Behind the Voter Data
Just a few lanes away, another home presented a different challenge. Inside lived a 90-year-old bedridden man, whose wife had passed away and who had no children to assist him. His caregiver, an ayah, was the only person present.
The BLO contacted the man’s nephew, who occasionally visits him. “I need to take your uncle’s left thumb impression on the form in the presence of a family member. If he wishes, a postal ballot can be arranged for him,” she explained.
In yet another residence, the BLO found the house locked but discovered through a neighbor that two family members listed on the voter roll had died. The surviving daughter, who now lives elsewhere with her ailing mother, promised to provide the death certificates and updated address details.
Saha Barua informed her that physical verification must occur at the address mentioned in the voter list, as per the Election Commission’s guidelines, and requested her cooperation during the next visit.
Verification Process: A Tedious but Crucial Step
The house enumeration phase is one of the most labor-intensive parts of voter roll revision. BLOs must personally visit each listed address, verify the voter’s presence, collect or update their details, and document deaths or relocations.
Each BLO handles several hundred households within their ward, often accompanied by booth-level agents (BLAs) from major political parties like Trinamool Congress and CPM to maintain transparency.
While the task appears routine on paper, it involves significant legwork, especially in urban areas where residents frequently shift due to work, migration, or family circumstances.
Why This Revision Matters for Bengal
The electoral roll revision 2025 is not just a bureaucratic exercise — it is a vital process to ensure free and fair elections in West Bengal. Updated rolls prevent duplication, remove deceased voters, and include eligible first-time voters.
Behala’s experience underscores the complexity of maintaining an accurate voter list in a densely populated city like Kolkata, where mobility and migration are high.
Despite the challenges, officers like Soumi Saha Barua continue their work with patience and commitment, balancing official rules with compassion. Their efforts will ultimately determine how accurate and inclusive Bengal’s electoral rolls are when the state heads into its next big election cycle.
Key Dates and Facts
Electoral Roll Revision Period: November 5 – December 4, 2025
Supervised by: Election Commission of India
Purpose: To verify, add, or delete names from the voter list 2025
Verification Team: BLOs and BLAs from major political parties
