EC puts West Bengal ASDD voter list online, asks BLOs to identify eligible voters

The Election Commission on Tuesday said the list of voters categorised as absent, shifted, dead or deleted (ASDD) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has been made available online.

Eligible voters whose names have been excluded from the electoral rolls under the ASDD category can apply for inclusion again by submitting Form 6 online or through their Booth Level Officer (BLO), a senior official said.

The poll panel has also directed BLOs to intensify efforts to identify eligible voters whose names may have been left out during the SIR exercise.

"The list of ASDD voters is available on the CEO's website as well as through links provided on the websites of the respective district election officers. Any eligible voter who finds that his or her name has been left out can submit Form 6 online or approach the Booth Level Officer for inclusion in the electoral roll," he said.

Form 6 is used by individuals to apply for inclusion in the electoral roll.

The Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office said it is working under the supervision and control of the Election Commission to update the electoral roll.

The announcement came a day after the Supreme Court clarified that it had not approved any changes to Form 6 being used by the Election Commission during the SIR exercise in various states. The EC had issued a press release on September 26 claiming that the top court had upheld the Form 6 declaration in its May 2026 judgment concerning the Bihar SIR.

The poll panel said any young or first-time eligible voter who turns 18 on the qualifying date can apply for inclusion in the electoral roll by submitting Form 6 online or through the BLO.

The BLOs will compare electoral rolls from before and after the SIR and prepare the list of eligible voters whose names need to be included, the official said.

Government representatives will visit the homes of identified voters to verify their status and assist eligible persons in completing Form 6, he said.

"The BLOs have been asked to visit at least 20 to 25 households every week so that the exercise can be completed within a month. Recognised political parties will also be involved in the process to ensure transparency and prevent the exclusion of eligible voters," he said.

The lists prepared by BLOs will be provided to Booth Level Agents (BLAs) representing recognised political parties for verification.

The verification reports, along with completed Form 6 applications, will then be sent to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), who will take the final decision in accordance with the law, the official said.

Once the exercise is completed, booth-wise lists will also be provided to political party representatives, enabling them to raise cases involving eligible voters whose names have been left out.

The Election Commission will also hold special enrolment camps in neighbourhoods, night shelters, labour colonies and areas inhabited by homeless and marginalised people.

The poll panel has directed officials to conduct awareness campaigns through educational institutions, local outreach programmes and the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, the official said.

Senior election officials will monitor the progress of the exercise on a daily basis, he added.  (with inputs from PTI)