In a significant update ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) released the third supplementary voter list for West Bengal late Saturday night. This latest publication is part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which aims to ensure a clean and accurate electoral roll for the state.
The release marks a continuing effort by the commission to finalize the list of eligible electors. This follows the publication of the partial final voter list on February 28, and two subsequent supplementary lists issued on March 23 and March 28. While the ECI has made the booth-wise lists available on its official website, it has not yet disclosed the specific number of voters included or excluded in this third installment.
Commission officials have indicated that they are seeking permission from the court to publish these supplementary lists on a daily basis to speed up the adjudication of pending cases. According to sources within the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office, approximately 3.8 million pending cases have been resolved so far across the first three supplementary lists.
The SIR process has been a point of focus in the state, particularly after the February 28 roll showed the exclusion of over 6 million names, which were then placed under judicial review. To manage this massive exercise, approximately 705 judicial officers have been engaged to oversee the adjudication of “doubtful” cases.
For citizens whose names remain excluded, the process provides a legal recourse. Affected individuals will have the opportunity to appeal their cases before specialized tribunals. These tribunals, whose locations are being finalized in coordination with the Calcutta High Court, will review grievances and ensure that no eligible citizen is disenfranchised.
With the first phase of polling in West Bengal scheduled for April 23, 2026, the Election Commission is working against a tight deadline to settle all remaining adjudications. Voters are encouraged to check their status on the CEO West Bengal website or via their local Booth Level Officers (BLO) to ensure their participation in the upcoming democratic exercise.