Extended Voter List Update: Feb 14 Deadline for 12 Regions

The Election Commission has announced an extension of the voter list revision deadline, granting an additional week until February 14 for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in 12 states and Union Territories. This revised timeline coincides with the upcoming parliamentary winter session, where the electoral revision process is expected to be a topic of considerable debate. The extension means that election officials will have more time to compile and publish the draft electoral rolls. The period for voter enumeration, originally ending December 4, will now conclude on December 11. As a result, the draft voter list, previously expected on December 9, will be released on December 16. The final, updated voter list will be published on February 14. Opposition leaders, including those from the Trinamool Congress, had recently petitioned the Election Commission, raising questions about the smooth execution and fairness of the large-scale door-to-door verification. They highlighted the immense stress on booth-level officers (BLOs) grappling with demanding timelines. The gravity of the situation is underscored by tragic reports of BLO suicides in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, with the impending assembly elections in West Bengal adding further pressure. In West Bengal, the revision process has already flagged nearly 19 lakh deceased voters on existing rolls. The commission has also increased its projected number of names to be deleted, now estimating approximately 35 lakh removals, covering deceased, duplicate, and relocated individuals.