Bengal set to add over 13,000 booths ahead of 2026 polls
Times of India | 17 August 2025
Kolkata: Bengal is set to add 13,816 new polling booths, taking the projected number of polling booths in the state from 80,613 to 94,479. The addition follows EC mandate limiting the number of voters per booth from 1,500 to 1,200. A final call on number of booths will however be taken after a meeting between EC officials and representatives of political parties on Wednesday.
A senior official said final booths will be decided on advice of political parties and DMs, following which the EC would issue a notification. The EC had earlier directed Bengal's chief electoral officer to rationalise polling booths ahead of 2026 assembly elections. It has been decided that booths will be set up in multi-storey complexes, slums and community halls, to improve participation.
Sources indicated that the number of booths could increase further based on a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by Jan 2026. Data from the 2002 SIR of some assembly constituencies, including Kulpi in South 24 Parganas, have not been traced. As a result, the EC plans to consider the 2003 draft roll for the SIR in Bengal.
South 24 Parganas, with 31 assembly seats, currently has 8,859 booths. That number is set to rise to 10,410. North 24 Parganas, encompassing 33 assembly segments, has 8,658 booths. Its likely to have 10,054 booths following additions.
Meanwhile, the EC has objected to employment of contractual data-entry operators following complaints against some of them. DMs have been instructed against employing casual employees for the roll revision process. The EC has requested 600 staff for roll revision-related tasks. Further, the EC has sought action against four officials, including two WBCS (Exe) officers, and demanded FIRs be lodged against them.