‘If docus not among EC’s 13, name may not be on final rolls’
Times of India | 3 February 2026
Kolkata: People who have submitted documents during the SIR hearing process other than the 13 notified by the EC are unlikely to be included in the final electoral rolls. EROs and AEROs, who uploaded those "wrong" documents, violating the EC order, might also face action, said an official.
According to a senior EC official, a few lakhs of voters submitted documents, such as PAN, electricity bills and property papers, which were not listed among those specified by EC. "The EC record shows many, during hearings, submitted documents other than those specified by the commission. According to the rules, those names could be deleted from the final rolls," he said, adding they would have to submit Form 6 to be enrolled as new voters after the final electoral list in Bengal is published.
"A voter can submit any document, but it's the EROs' and AEROs' responsibility to check if they are the right papers. In many cases, they did not check and uploaded whatever documents were submitted. EROs and AEROs, identified for dereliction of duties, are likely to face action," another EC official said. These anomalies were identified by the special roll observers while checking the uploaded documents.
The commission has deployed four special roll observers, who are stationed at the Bengal CEO office and overseeing the SIR process. "The four special roll observers are heading a team of more than 100 micro-observers to check electors' documents, which are being uploaded after hearings. During the checking, micro-observers pointed out the anomalies in the submitted documents and alerted the special roll observers, who in turn, alerted the commission," an EC official said.
Special roll observers also submitted complaints about deliberate errors in uploading hearing documents. An official said one complaint was lodged against a North Kolkata ERO. The observer noticed the ERO mentioned a voter's passport as the document but uploaded Aadhaar and PAN images.