In recent months, many voters across West Bengal experienced serious confusion while submitting SIR (Special Intensive Revision) forms. Although their names clearly appeared in the 2002 Electoral Roll PDF, the BLO mobile application frequently displayed “No Record Found” when searching by part number and serial number.
This mismatch caused several voters to be wrongly marked as “Unmapped” or “No Linkage”, raising fears of hearings, notices, and even possible deletion from the voter list.
To address this widespread concern, an official notice dated 27 December 2025 was issued, providing much-needed clarification and relief.
Why Did This Problem Occur? (Root Cause Explained)
The notice clearly states that:
The digital conversion of the 2002 Electoral Roll PDF was incomplete.
Because of this incomplete digitization, the BLO application often failed to fetch voter details—even though the names were legitimately present in the original 2002 hard-copy PDF list.
As a result:
- BLOs saw “Data Could Not Be Fetched”
- Voters were incorrectly shown as Unmapped
- This was not the voter’s fault, but a system-level issue
Who Were Most Affected by This Issue?
The issue mainly impacted:
- Self-listed voters
- Voters whose own names existed in the 2002 PDF but were not searchable online
- Progeny-based applicants
- Voters who filled SIR forms using father/mother/grandparent details
- Sometimes the father’s name did not fetch, so the mother’s name was used instead
- Even then, the app showed No Record Found
Despite this, their names were clearly visible in the 2002 PDF electoral roll.
Major Relief: No Hearing for These Voters
The most important clarification in the 27 December 2025 notice is:
Voters whose names appear in the 2002 Electoral Roll PDF but are shown as Unmapped due to digital fetch failure will NOT be called for any hearing.
This confirms that:
- No harassment
- No personal hearing
- No penal action
- No voter fault
The responsibility lies entirely with the digitization and mapping process, not with citizens.
What If a Notice Was Already Generated?
The notice further clarifies:
- Even if an ERO/AERO has generated a notice,
👉 Such notices must NOT be served on these voters.
This protects voters from unnecessary stress caused by system-generated errors.
What Is the Correct Verification Process Now?
Step-by-Step Official Procedure
- 2002 PDF Roll Submission
- The 2002 electoral roll PDF can be forwarded to higher authorities for verification
- Verification by Authorities
- After verification, DEOs will instruct EROs/AEROs accordingly
- Document Upload
- The 2002 PDF page containing the voter’s name will be uploaded as supporting proof
- Role of BLO
- BLOs will:
- Conduct field-level verification
- Take a photograph of the relevant PDF page
- Upload it during PIL verification
- BLOs will:
👉 Voters do not need to run around—BLOs will complete the process by visiting homes if required.
Who Will Still Face Hearings?
Only voters who meet all of the following conditions will still face hearings:
- Their name does NOT appear in the 2002 Electoral Roll PDF
- Their parents’ or grandparents’ names also do not appear
- There is no documentary linkage at all
For these cases, the hearing process will continue as per existing rules.
Key Takeaway for Voters
If:
- Your name exists in the 2002 Electoral Roll PDF
- But the BLO app shows No Record Found
- And you were marked Unmapped / No Linkage
👉 You are completely safe. No hearing will be conducted.
The issue has been officially acknowledged as a technical failure, not a voter discrepancy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will I receive a hearing notice if my name is in the 2002 PDF?
No. As per the December 27, 2025 notice, no hearing will be conducted.
2. What if the BLO app shows “No Record Found”?
That is due to incomplete digitization. Your PDF record is valid.
3. Do I need to upload documents myself?
No. BLOs will handle document upload and verification.
4. What document will be used as proof?
The 2002 Electoral Roll PDF page containing your name.
5. What if my father’s name doesn’t fetch but my mother’s does?
Either parental linkage is acceptable if present in the 2002 roll.
6. Who is responsible for this error?
The issue lies with incomplete digital conversion, not with voters.
