Enumeration form deadline lapses; 22 lakh voters still uncovered in Bengal
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Kolkata: The deadline for distributing enumeration forms in West Bengal, marking the first stage of the three-phase special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, has been missed once more. Around 22 lakh forms are yet to be handed out.
According to figures from the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office, approximately 7.45 crore forms had been distributed across the state by 6 p.m. on Friday, covering about 97 per cent of the 7,66,37,529 electors listed as of October 27.
The initial deadline of November 11 was missed, with 15 per cent of voters left without forms. A revised deadline of November 14 was also not met, delaying the completion of the first stage of the SIR process.
Officials said nearly 60 lakh voters have been marked “non-traceable,” as booth-level officers (BLOs) were unable to deliver forms directly. In such cases, notices were pasted on the doors of residences, instructing voters to contact BLOs by a specified date. Those failing to respond have been categorised as “non-traceable.”
The first stage of the SIR began on November 4, with the entire exercise scheduled to conclude by March next year. The last SIR in West Bengal was conducted in 2002.
(Inputs from IANS)