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BENGAL ELECTIONS 2026: EC RELEASES SUPPLEMENTARY VOTER LIST; CLEARS ELIGIBILITY FOR PHASE 1 POLLS TOMORROW[1][2]
KOLKATA – On the eve of the high-stakes first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has released a crucial supplementary voter list.[3] The announcement clears the air for thousands of citizens whose voting rights were hanging in the balance following the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
The 48-Hour Rule: Who Can Vote Tomorrow?
In accordance with a landmark directive from the Supreme Court, the EC has clarified that only those voters who received clearance from judicial Tribunals up to 48 hours before the start of polling will be eligible to cast their votes.[2]
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For Phase 1 (April 23): Voters whose names were cleared and added to the supplementary list by April 21 are eligible to vote tomorrow.[2]
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For Phase 2 (April 29): The cutoff for Tribunal clearance is April 27.[2]
The Commission emphasized that having a pending appeal or a claim under review does not automatically grant the right to vote.[4] Only names officially appearing in the Final Electoral Roll or the newly published supplementary lists will be permitted at the polling booths.[4]
Supreme Court’s Intervention
The release of the list follows the Supreme Court invoking its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.[1][2] The Court intervened to ensure that citizens cleared of discrepancies by Tribunals were not disenfranchised due to administrative delays. The Court had ordered the EC to publish this consolidated list by April 21 to provide clarity ahead of the 152-constituency battle in Phase 1.[1]
Background: The SIR Shake-up
The 2026 elections follow an unprecedented Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that saw the removal of approximately 9.1 million names from the state’s electoral rolls.[2][5][6] While the EC stated the move was necessary to eliminate “bogus, deceased, and shifted” voters, it sparked intense political debate over potential disenfranchisement.[5]
The supplementary list released today acts as a final “correction” for those who successfully challenged their deletion or whose verification was completed at the eleventh hour.
How to Check Your Status
The ECI has urged all voters to verify their status before heading to the booths tomorrow:
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Official Website: Visit voters.eci.gov.in and navigate to the “Supplementary List” section.
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Search Criteria: Voters can search using their EPIC (Voter ID) number or personal details.[4][7]
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Booth-wise Lists: The updated lists have been uploaded booth-wise; however, booths with cases still “under adjudication” may not show names until final clearance is received.
Security and Preparations
With over 3.6 crore electors expected to vote in the first phase across 16 districts, security has been bolstered.[8] Polling stations will open at 7:00 AM tomorrow. Voters are reminded to carry their EPIC card or one of the 12 approved alternative photo ID documents, such as Aadhaar, PAN card, or Driving License.[8]
The EC has reiterated that the “voter slip” provided by parties is only for guidance and does not serve as a substitute for a valid ID or a name on the official electoral roll…
