The Election Commission (EC) has issued notices to eight Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in West Bengal for allegedly distributing census forms for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) from tea stalls, local clubs and other public places instead of visiting voters’ homes, according to PTI.
The EC has also issued a new set of guidelines to ensure strict adherence to procedures during the SIR of voter rolls in the state.
Officials of the State Chief Electoral Office, the Commission expressed displeasure over these lapses and instructed all District Election Officers (DEOs) and District Magistrates to ensure that BLOs personally visit the residences of every voter to deliver and collect the forms as required by the election rules.
The official said, “The commission has directed state authorities to follow the ‘Bihar model’, under which BLOs are required to both distribute and collect forms directly from polling stations. Any officer caught negligent in duty will face disciplinary action. So far, eight BLOs have been booked for allegedly violating these instructions.”
The EC has ordered the setting up of control centers at the district level and ordered the appointment of one BLO supervisor for every 10 booths to ensure thorough supervision, the official said. The commission has also introduced a special helpline for citizens to report complaints regarding the conduct of BLOs or any irregularities in the voter enumeration process, he further said.
“These measures are aimed at tightening supervision and maintaining transparency in revising the electoral roll across the state,” he added.
What is an enumeration form?
An enumeration form is a document used to compile an official record of persons, items or dates. For the West Bengal SIR 2025, these forms will be used to prepare the list of eligible voters for the West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026. About 7.66 million enumeration forms have been prepared, with each voter receiving two copies: one to keep with the stamped receipt and the other for the records of the Election Commission.
The enumeration form will ensure that you are an eligible ECI voter and will be used to create the official voter list under the West Bengal SIR 2025. If your voter details match, you will be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections. The BLO will visit your home to update your voter information. Between 4 November and 4 December 2025, you can expect the BLO to provide you with two pre-filled copies of the electoral roll form and guide you through their completion. The BLO will also collect the completed form and give you an acknowledgment of receipt.
