ECI asks West Bengal DEOs to complete polling station rationalisation by Dec 2025

Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the District Election Officers (DEOs) in West Bengal where SIR exercise is underway, to complete rationalization of polling stations by December, 2025. Similar instructions have been given to other states/UTS where SIR is underway.

ECI in a letter West Bengal CEO has directed to “conduct an extensive survey during the ongoing exercise of rationalization of polling stations to identify those urban areas where Group Housing Societies and high rise residential buildings are located so as to find out whether adequate rooms such as common facilitation area/community halls/schools are available at ground floor within the premises of such societies for the purpose of setting up a polling station to cater to the resident electors.”

“In case of availability, efforts should be made to set up polling stations in such rooms if these conform to the prescribed norms. In the slum dwelling clusters in urban areas and also where outgrowth has taken place in the expanding urban/semi-urban areas, the same exercise should also be undertaken,” the letter said.


The DEOs have been asked to strictly comply with the instructions of the ECI, in regard to the polling station rationalization process.

“After survey and identification of suitable building during the above exercise” and “the physical verification of the polling station locations shall be conducted, by senior officer for the purpose, to be designated by the District Election Officer, in such manner that it could be assessed as to whether the building is in proper condition and it meets the other parameters as the Assured Minimum Facilities set by ECI for smooth conduct of polls,” the ECI said.

Former IAS appointed as Special Rolls Observer
ECI appointed former IAS Subrata Gupta as Special Roll Observer to oversee the process of Special Intensive Revision as per the directions of the Commission, “to ensure that no eligible person is left out from enrolment and that no ineligible elector is included in the electoral roll”.

The Special Rolls Observer, Gupta will “give your inputs to the Commission from time to time as per the directions of the Commission.”

ECI appoints 12 Electoral Rolls Observers for SIR
The ECI today appointed 12 Electoral Rolls Observers to monitor the state's voter list for the SIR process. The National Commission has decided to appoint observers keeping in mind the number of voters in different districts of the state and the geographical location of bordering districts.

These observers will assist the concerned DEO and ERO in preparing the voter list.