Election BLO Guidelines: The Election Commission has issued a comprehensive directive outlining the roles and responsibilities of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the ongoing General Election to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal 2026. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, issued Memo No. 4800 – Home (Elec) on April 9, 2026, detailing strict compliance measures for government employees and teachers assigned as BLOs.
Table of Contents
Rules for Voter Information Slip (VIS) Distribution
- Door-to-Door Delivery: BLOs are mandated to visit every household to distribute the Voter Information Slip (VIS) to all enrolled electors.
- Deadline: The distribution process must be completed at least 5 clear days before the polling day.
- Handover Protocol: The slip must be handed over strictly to the registered voter or an adult family member who is also a registered voter in the same constituency. Bulk distribution is strictly prohibited.
- Strict Neutrality: BLOs must maintain absolute political neutrality. Genuine complaints regarding bias during the distribution process will attract severe disciplinary action.
- Accompaniment by Agents: Booth Level Agents (BLAs) or candidates’ agents are permitted to accompany the BLO during distribution. In such instances, the BLO must obtain their signatures on the distribution register.
- All undistributed slips must be returned to the Returning Officer (RO) to prepare the ASDD list for the Presiding Officer.
Polling Station Arrangements
- BLOs, along with Sector Officers, are responsible for monitoring the webcasting setup and the exact positioning of web cameras inside the booth.
- They must submit a joint certificate to the Returning Officer confirming that the webcasting system is functioning correctly.
- While ensuring sufficient lighting inside the voting compartment, high-voltage incandescent bulbs or tube lights must not be placed directly over or in front of the VVPAT. Excess light can force the VVPAT machine into an error mode, disrupting the voting process.
Voter Assistance Booths (VAB) Protocol
- A Voter Assistance Booth (VAB) must be established at the polling premises with prominent signage for voter guidance.
- An Alphabetic Roll Locator, generated via ERO Net, must be kept at the VAB to help voters find their names easily.
- Once undistributed slips are returned to the RO, no further distribution is allowed on the day of the poll.
Impact on Government Employees
This directive brings a significant shift in how state government employees and teachers operate on election day. The most crucial impact is the explicit instruction that BLOs will not be assigned any additional poll duties on voting day. Their sole responsibility will be to sit at the VAB or the entrance of the polling station to identify incoming electors.
Furthermore, to manage booths with a high number of women voters, particularly purdahnasheen women, a female staff member will accompany a male BLO (and vice versa) for proper identification. Any discrepancy during the identification process must be immediately brought to the attention of the Presiding Officer. The administration has warned that failure to discharge these specific duties will be viewed seriously and may invite legal action under election laws.
