The absentee voters SIR list in West Bengal is receiving a final extension as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been instructed to accept and upload details of previously untraceable voters until Thursday. This move by the Election Commission (EC) aims to ensure maximum accuracy in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Absentee Voters SIR List Receives Final Extension as EC Seeks Complete Accuracy
Kolkata — The Election Commission of India has granted Booth Level Officers (BLOs) additional time until Thursday to update the absentee voters SIR list, even if those electors were previously marked as untraceable. Officials clarified that BLOs can still upload the required forms of these voters as long as they appear before the revised deadline.
However, the EC has made it clear that once the December 11 cut-off passes, BLOs will no longer have the authority to reverse absentee markings that have already been digitised. Any voter reaching out after the deadline will have to follow a fresh application process, ensuring transparency and accountability in electoral data handling.
BLOs Required to Seek EC Permission for Post-Deadline Changes
According to new instructions circulated through official WhatsApp groups, BLOs must send a formal request to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) if they want the Commission to intervene and allow modifications after the absentee declaration. Only with this approval can the portal be reopened for a specific voter’s details.
An EC official reported on Monday that West Bengal has already digitised an impressive 99.6% of all SIR forms. The state has recorded around 10.9 lakh absentee voters, a figure that prompted the Commission to intensify tracing and verification efforts.
Deadline Pressure Mounts as Officials Urge Last-Minute Verification
An Electoral Registration Officer emphasized that BLOs have been clearly instructed to attempt tracing all untraceable voters until Thursday, even if their absentee status is already reflected in the system.
“After the deadline, no correction can be made on the portal,” the officer stressed, indicating that finality in the digitisation process is essential to release an accurate SIR list.
Final Electoral Roll Expected on December 16
The Commission is scheduled to publish the final SIR list on December 16. For voters who remain absent from the list at that time, authorities confirmed that they can still be added later — but only by filing a fresh Form 6 application. This requirement aligns with standard EC procedure for inclusion of new or previously unregistered electors.
Ground-Level Challenges: BLOs Report Last-Minute Turnarounds
Arup Mondal, a BLO serving in Tollygunge, shared that 27 voters in his assigned area remain untraceable. Although all have been marked absent as per EC protocol, Mondal said he remains alert for any last-minute visitors.
“If someone turns up now, I must ask why they could not be traced earlier,” he explained. “If the Commission approves their explanation, I will upload their details as soon as the portal is reopened.”
A similar situation was reported in Maniktala, where another BLO stated that seven voters in his jurisdiction remained missing until Monday evening. If these individuals reach out before Thursday, he plans to apply for EC approval to update their status.
EC Tightens Scrutiny Through Progeny Mapping
Further strengthening verification procedures, the EC has asked BLOs to conduct door-to-door visits under the progeny-mapping initiative. This method cross-checks whether an individual who would have been 18 years or older in 2002 should have already appeared in earlier electoral rolls. The purpose is to identify outdated or missing entries and eliminate potential duplication or fraud.
Authorities believe that progeny mapping will provide deeper accuracy in the upcoming SIR list and reinforce public trust in the electoral system.
✅ FAQ Section
1. What is the absentee voters SIR list?
It is a list of voters marked absent during the Special Intensive Revision when they cannot be located by BLOs during house-to-house verification.
2. Can absentee voters still get their names added to the electoral roll?
Yes. If they appear before Thursday, BLOs can upload their details. After that, they must apply again using Form 6.
3. What happens if a voter contacts the BLO after the deadline?
Their absentee status cannot be changed directly; they must follow a fresh registration process.
4. When will the final SIR list be published?
The Election Commission will release it on December 16.
5. What is progeny mapping used for?
It checks whether individuals eligible since 2002 appear in the voter list, improving accuracy and preventing duplication.