Voter List Correction: Big Relief in Voter List Correction as Election Commission Relaxes Rules for Spelling Errors
Voter List Correction: The Election Commission has brought highly relieving news for the general voters of West Bengal. Specifically, for those whose family members or ancestors (such as parents or grandparents) have spelling errors in their names within the voter list, this new guideline serves as a significant respite. For a long time, there was a prevailing fear among the public that even the slightest mistake in the spelling of a name could lead to running around for hearings at the Election Commission office or facing legal complexities. However, ahead of the 2025 voter list revision, the Commission has significantly relaxed these rules.
Relief Through New Update in BLO App
Recently, a new feature or option named ‘Reverify Logical Discrepancies’ has been added to the app used by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Through this process, it has been observed that the data of many citizens from 2002 does not match the current data of 2025. This discrepancy is particularly noticeable in the case of fathers’ names or surnames. However, according to the Commission’s new directive, hearing notices will no longer be sent to common people for such minor errors.
The types of errors and their solutions are explained in the table below:
| Type of Error | Example (Old vs New) | Commission’s Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Spelling Error | ‘Kashinath’ vs ‘Kashi’ | Resolved at BLO level. |
| Surname or Middle Name | ‘Asim Kumar Dutta’ vs ‘Asim Dutta’ | No hearing required. |
| Name Variation (Extended) | ‘Basu’ vs ‘Basudev’ | Accepted via undertaking. |
| Completely Different Name | ‘Kamal’ vs ‘Shyamal’ | Hearing notice may be issued. |
Special Powers and Duties of BLOs
According to the Commission’s guidelines, if there are minor discrepancies in the spelling of the name or title, the BLO can verify and correct it themselves. For this, they need to sign and upload an ‘Undertaking’ or declaration form in the app. The essence of this declaration is that despite the difference in spelling, the two names actually belong to the same person. Once the BLO confirms this, no hearing letter will be sent to that voter’s house.
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Join on TelegramCurrently, two types of cases or forms are coming to the BLOs:
- Progeny Cases: Where there is an error in the ancestor’s name.
- Self Cases: Where there is an error in the voter’s own name.
What Should General Voters Do?
The most important point is that the responsibility for completing this entire process lies with the BLO. The general voter does not need to fill out any form themselves. However, when the BLO comes home for verification, voters need to fulfill certain responsibilities:
- Present Correct Documents: Keep documents like the Aadhar card or other government IDs ready as proof that the spelling of the name is correct.
- Cooperation: If the BLO asks for any supporting documents or photos of documents (both sides), provide them promptly.
However, please remember that if the name changes completely (as mentioned in the example, ‘Kamal’ to ‘Shyamal’), the BLO will not verify it, and a hearing may be required in that case. It is expected that with this step by the Commission, about 80 percent of the people in the state who have minor errors in their voter cards will be relieved from harassment.
