The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made it mandatory to link Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) with a valid mobile number for all voters submitting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 forms online in West Bengal. The directive, part of the ECI’s ongoing digital reforms, is aimed at improving transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in the West Bengal voter list revision process.
- Why EPIC–Mobile Linking Is Now Compulsory
- Step-by-Step: How to Link EPIC With Mobile Number
- Submitting the SIR 2026 Enumeration Form Online
- ECI’s Action on Violations: Eight Booth Officers Issued Notices
- Background: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal
- Public Response and Concerns
- Expert View: A Step Toward Clean Electoral Rolls
- What It Means for West Bengal Voters
- Outlook: Toward a Fully Digital Electoral Roll
The announcement comes at a critical time as the state begins preparations for the West Bengal Assembly elections, with officials emphasizing that this new system will help ensure cleaner electoral rolls and faster communication with voters.
Why EPIC–Mobile Linking Is Now Compulsory
The Election Commission stated that no online submission of SIR forms will be accepted unless a voter’s EPIC number is linked with their mobile number.
An EPIC, or Electors Photo Identity Card, is a 10-digit unique identification number issued by the ECI. The linking ensures that each form submitted online can be verified through OTP authentication, thereby reducing the scope for duplication or fraud.
According to the ECI circular, this move is expected to especially benefit students, professionals, and workers residing outside West Bengal who wish to update or verify their entries in the state electoral roll remotely.
An ECI official said,
“The Commission’s intent is to make the revision process fully transparent and digital-first. Linking EPIC with mobile enables real-time verification and communication with voters.”
Step-by-Step: How to Link EPIC With Mobile Number
Voters can easily link their EPIC card with their mobile number by following these official steps on the ECI portal:
- Visit the Election Commission’s official website: https://voters.eci.gov.in/
- Click on “Sign Up” or log in if already registered.
- Enter your mobile number, email ID, and the captcha code displayed.
- Validate the OTP sent to your phone.
- Provide your EPIC number when prompted.
- Confirm the linking request. All updates will be sent to your registered email ID.
For voters whose EPIC is not yet linked, the ECI advises using Form-8 under the “Correction of Entries in Existing Electoral Roll” option. Only the ‘Mobile Number’ field should be selected during correction.
Once the EPIC is linked, the voter must re-login to the portal and proceed to fill out the SIR 2026 enumeration form using Aadhaar-based e-sign authentication. The ECI emphasizes that names, addresses, and birth details must match across EPIC and Aadhaar for the e-sign to be validated.
Submitting the SIR 2026 Enumeration Form Online
After linking the EPIC and mobile number, applicants can follow these steps to submit their enumeration forms online:
- Go to voters.eci.gov.in
- Click “Fill Enumeration Form” under the SIR 2026 section.
- Enter your EPIC number or linked mobile number.
- Select West Bengal as your state.
- Review your existing electoral data carefully.
- Update relevant fields if necessary.
- Complete the e-sign verification via Aadhaar.
- Submit the form digitally.
All applications are cross-checked with previous SIR data to avoid duplication. This online mechanism marks a significant move toward a paperless voter verification process, aligning with India’s broader push for digital governance.
ECI’s Action on Violations: Eight Booth Officers Issued Notices
In a related development, the Election Commission of India has issued show-cause notices to eight Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in West Bengal for allegedly distributing enumeration forms from tea stalls and local clubs, violating official procedure.
The action followed multiple complaints from political parties and citizens claiming that BLOs in districts such as Cooch Behar and North 24 Parganas distributed voter revision forms at public places instead of conducting door-to-door verification.
An ECI source confirmed to NDTV that strict vigilance measures are now in place to maintain transparency during the SIR 2026 exercise.
“Such practices compromise the sanctity of voter data. Every BLO has been instructed to carry out enumeration by visiting voters’ homes only,” the official said.
The Commission has also introduced a 24×7 helpline number for citizens to report any irregularities observed during the voter revision drive.
Background: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an annual exercise carried out by the Election Commission to update electoral rolls before key elections.
In West Bengal, the SIR 2026 holds particular importance ahead of the next Assembly polls, as the state aims to ensure maximum voter participation and accuracy in its records.
In recent years, the ECI has introduced a series of technological reforms, including Aadhaar-EPIC linking, online grievance redressal portals, and QR-coded voter slips to streamline the process.
According to officials, these steps aim to prevent fraudulent enrollments, remove deceased or duplicate voters, and encourage digitally verified electoral data.
Earlier, the ECI had directed District Magistrates (DMs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to remain extra vigilant and ensure that booth-level staff strictly adhere to guidelines during the SIR process.
Any negligence, the Commission warned, would invite disciplinary action.
Public Response and Concerns
While many voters have welcomed the move toward digital submissions, some have raised concerns about internet accessibility and verification issues, particularly in rural and hilly areas of North Bengal.
Local activists have urged the ECI to set up facilitation centers in panchayat offices and urban wards to assist voters unfamiliar with the online process.
Kolkata-based civic rights expert Samarjit Bhattacharya remarked,
“Digital verification is a positive step, but we must ensure that no citizen is excluded simply because they lack internet access or a smartphone.”
Despite the concerns, early feedback suggests that urban voters have adapted well to the EPIC–mobile linking process, finding it convenient and time-saving.
Expert View: A Step Toward Clean Electoral Rolls
Political analysts and election law experts believe the new linking mandate is a step in the right direction to strengthen the integrity of the West Bengal voter list.
Prof. S. Mukherjee, a political analyst at Jadavpur University, commented,
“The linkage of EPIC with mobile and Aadhaar allows the Commission to reach voters faster, reduce human error, and detect bogus entries. However, data privacy safeguards must also be prioritized.”
The West Bengal Election Department has assured that all personal information collected during the process will be encrypted and stored securely within the National Electoral Roll Services Portal (NERSP) framework.
What It Means for West Bengal Voters
For the estimated 7.8 crore voters in West Bengal, this rule means that online applications for addition, correction, or deletion in the voter list will only be accepted if their mobile number is linked to EPIC.
This will affect new voters registering for the first time as well as those updating existing details under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 program.
The ECI clarified that offline submission through BLOs or designated voter centers will remain available for citizens unable to use the digital platform.
Outlook: Toward a Fully Digital Electoral Roll
The Special Intensive Revision 2026 marks a milestone in India’s electoral digitization roadmap. West Bengal’s initiative to mandate EPIC–mobile linking could soon become a national model.
Officials indicate that the system’s success may lead to the introduction of SMS-based polling notifications, AI-enabled roll correction, and real-time voter grievance tracking in future elections.
With greater digital integration, the ECI envisions a 100% verified, tamper-proof, and transparent voter database ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Stay tuned with Global India Broadcast News for verified updates and detailed reports on the West Bengal voter list revision, SIR 2026 process, and upcoming electoral developments.
According to Report
The Indian Express — https://indianexpress.com/article/india/west-bengal-voter-list-epic-mobile-number-link-online-submission-sir-2026-forms-10355153/
