50% done, EC looks to wrap up form distribution in 2-3 days
Times of India | 9 November 2025
Kolkata: More than four crore voters have already received enumeration forms within the first five days of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bengal that kicked off on Nov 4, and the Election Commission expects booth level officers (BLOs) to complete distribution of 80%-90% of forms among the state's 7.6 crore electorate by the end of the first week.
The EC expects the 80,861 BLOs it has appointed for the exercise to reach about 1.5 to 2 crore voters on Sunday. At the current pace, the BLOs are expected to reach out to another 70-80 lakh voters on Monday, leaving around 50 lakh to 1 crore voters to be covered thereafter.
"Our target was to complete the form distribution process in 7-10 days from the start date, Nov 4, and we are well on track. In the first four days, until Friday, we distributed 3 crore enumeration forms.
Since more electors will be home during the weekend, the BLOs should easily reach the desired target," said a senior official at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal.
In the training sessions before the commencement of the SIR exercise, the BLOs were asked to distribute all forms by Nov 11. "The progress is more or less satisfactory and within target. The form distribution process is progressing well in all districts at almost a similar pace.
No district is lagging far behind," another official said. Even as the BLOs go about distributing forms, the EC has asked them to collect forms that are filled up to ensure the exercise is completed early and there is enough time to conduct a check.
All the information in the filled forms collected from the electors will have to be entered into the BLO app by the BLOs. They also need to scan the forms and upload them. Based on the uploaded data, the draft electoral list will be published on Dec 9.
According to the EC, 7,47,25,303 enumeration forms have been printed so far, which is 97.5% of the number of electors in the state. While the exercise has been peaceful till now and there is a general empathy for BLOs who are going from door to door to hand over the enumeration forms, there have been stray complaints against some BLOs for not toeing EC instructions. On Saturday, the EC show-caused eight such BLOs after receiving complaints that they were distributing enumeration forms at tea joints, clubs, community halls and other public places instead of visiting electors' homes.
The state Chief Electoral Officer issued instructions to all DEOs (district magistrtaes) on the need for BLOs to physically hand over the forms to voters at their addresses after receiving the complaints.
An ECI official said, "All BLOs must physically visit door-to-door for the SIR exercise. Any violation of this instruction may follow show-cause and disciplinary actions against the BLOs. If any BLO does not distribute forms or destroys forms, he/she will be booked under criminal offence."
The Commission also lodged FIRs against 5 BLAs (booth level agents) of different political parties for threatening the BLOs and preventing them from discharging their duties.