West Bengal recorded over 91% voter turnout in the first phase of 2026 Assembly elections, highest in the state’s history. The Election Commission’s provisional data showed a sharp rise from the previous turnout of 81.56%.
A key factor behind this surge lies in the recent SIR of electoral rolls. The exercise removed nearly 91 lakh names from voter lists, reducing the electorate by 11.63%. Officials stated that many deletions involved deceased voters, duplicate entries, or those who had shifted locations. With fewer registered voters, the turnout percentage rose.
The revision process marked a departure from past practices. Earlier updates relied on periodic revisions. This time, authorities carried out a largescale verification drive across multiple states and union territories, leading to the removal of over 5 crore names nationwide.
In West Bengal, the process included additional steps. Authorities deployed micro-observers and judicial officers. Appellate tribunals reviewed disputes related to voter eligibility. Out of more than 27 lakh contested deletions, only 139 names were restored after review.
The state government opposed the revision process and raised concerns about voter exclusion. It linked the exercise to broader fears around citizenship verification. Opposition voices defended the move, stating it removed ineligible entries.As polling concluded, leaders framed the high turnout as a strong public response.