Kolkata: Just a day before the second phase of West Bengal’s Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the second supplementary voter list, clearing only 1,468 names out of lakhs of disputed entries reviewed during the appellate process.

The latest list follows an extensive judicial and appellate review of around 27 lakh voter records that were earlier flagged as potentially ineligible during a large-scale adjudication exercise. The process, conducted under the supervision of judicial officers and Appellate Tribunals as directed by the Supreme Court, has seen only a small fraction of names reinstated so far.

In a notable development, six people whose names were initially approved during the judicial scrutiny phase were later rejected by the Appellate Tribunals. This revision highlights ongoing discrepancies between the two levels of review.

Earlier, in the first supplementary list published on April 22, just ahead of Phase 1 polling, only 136 names were cleared, while two were removed. With the latest approvals, all 1,468 voters cleared in the second supplementary list will now be eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming Phase 2 polling.

The controversy stems from the final electoral roll published on February 28, after which more than 60 lakh names were sent for judicial adjudication. This massive exercise involved 732 judicial officers, including personnel from neighbouring states such as Jharkhand and Odisha. Following the review, approximately 27 lakh entries were deemed excludable, prompting further appeals.

As per Supreme Court directions, these cases were escalated to Appellate Tribunals, which were also instructed to allow any voter cleared, even a day before polling, to participate in the election.

The second phase of voting will cover 142 Assembly constituencies spread across six districts, including the state capital, Kolkata. Election results are scheduled to be announced on May 4.

How to check your name in the voter list

Voters can verify their status through official platforms such as the CEO West Bengal website- https://ceowestbengal.nic.in/ or the National Voters’ Service Portal- https://voters.eci.gov.in/.

Users can search using their EPIC number or personal details like name, age, and constituency.

The latest supplementary rolls can also be downloaded in PDF format by selecting the relevant district and constituency.

Accepted proof of identity at polling stations

Voters are required to carry a valid ID. While the Voter ID card (EPIC) is the primary document, alternatives include-  Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, driving licence, bank or post office passbook with a photograph, pension documents, government-issued ID cards, or NPR smart cards.

Important steps before voting day

Voters should verify their names in the electoral roll through the official portal (voters.eci.gov.in), the ECINET mobile app, or by calling the toll-free helpline 1950. They are also advised to confirm their polling station location and review details about their constituency candidates.