The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has begun in West Bengal after a 23-year gap, with an impressive start marked by the distribution of more than 70 lakh enumeration forms on the very first day. Over 80,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) fanned out across the state on Tuesday, beginning their month-long house-to-house visits that will continue until December 4. According to officials, the exercise aims to ensure accurate voter records across all 294 assembly constituencies, with each voter receiving two copies of the form as part of the process.

The Election Commission confirmed that 80,681 BLOs have been deployed to carry out the massive enumeration task, supported by adequate security personnel to ensure their safety during field visits. Officials reported no incidents of resistance or disruptions on the first day, and district electoral officers were instructed to promptly address any issues if they arise. BLOs continued their door-to-door efforts on Wednesday, distributing forms and guiding residents on the submission process as the revision drive picked up momentum.

A total of 7.66 crore enumeration forms have been prepared for the statewide exercise, reflecting the scale of the operation in a state with a voter base of over seven crore. As per SIR guidelines, BLOs must countersign both copies of the form—one to be submitted for official records, and the second returned to voters with a stamped acknowledgment for future reference. With the last SIR conducted in 2002, this year’s revision is considered crucial for updating voter rolls and ensuring transparency ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.