New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Election Commission (EC) is introducing artificial intelligence tools to bolster its verification efforts during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, senior officials said on Tuesday. The move is aimed at detecting duplicate, fake, or deceased voters more effectively at a time when complaints over misuse of voter photographs are on the rise.
According to officials, the AI system will scan and compare voter images across the statewide database, flagging instances where the same photograph appears under multiple entries. Complaints involving the photographs of migrant workers—often used without consent—have prompted the Commission to deploy the technology.
“There has been a noticeable increase in allegations involving repetition of voter photos, particularly those of migrant labourers,” an official said, explaining the need for digital support. “Facial-matching tools will help us spot duplications quickly across large volumes of data.”
However, election authorities emphasized that technology will not replace traditional, on-ground verification. Booth-level officers (BLOs) will remain responsible for confirming each voter’s identity through direct visits. Even when booth-level agents (BLAs) submit completed forms on behalf of voters, BLOs must still go door-to-door to validate signatures and collect fresh photographs.
BLAs, meanwhile, will be required to gather handwritten statements from voters certifying that forms were filled in their presence—an additional measure meant to prevent tampering or proxy submissions.
The Commission has also tightened accountability. If, after the verification process is completed, any voter is later found to be fake or deceased, the BLO for that polling station will be held answerable, the official noted.
The introduction of AI-supported checks marks a significant step in the EC’s efforts to refine and safeguard Bengal’s voter rolls, particularly ahead of crucial electoral cycles. Officials said the hybrid model—technology-backed filtering combined with physical verification—aims to ensure both accuracy and transparency in the revision process.
