The Election Commission has informed the prison department that prisoners in Asansol and other correctional facilities must be enrolled in the list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The directive from ADG (Prisons) Laxminarayan Mina reached Asansol Correctional Facility Superintendent Chandreyi Haite on Wednesday.
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Notably, doubts had arisen about whether prisoners would ultimately be able to vote in the 2026 elections. Asansol Sub-Divisional Magistrate Biswajit Bhattacharya said, “Just as we are sending officials to make voters aware in other places, if necessary, I will go to Asansol Correctional Facility and explain to the prisoners how to fill out the enumeration form.” Salanpur BDO Debanjan Biswas has informed that if there are any prisoners from this block in Asansol Correctional Facility, they will take the initiative to send the necessary forms upon receiving that information.
After the prison department's directive arrived, representatives of political parties are also relieved. They have stated that this decision will benefit prisoners in the state's 62 correctional facilities. Trinamool, Indian National Congress and CPI(M) have proposed that if one booth each is set up in every correctional facility in the state during elections, prisoners there can vote. Across all districts, there are currently about 35,000 prisoners. The Election Commission should also ensure that they can exercise their voting rights smoothly.
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The Asansol Correctional Facility Superintendent has informed that there are currently 400 prisoners there. Among them, only a handful are convicted prisoners. The rest are undertrial prisoners. In their case, if family members request to take the enumeration forms, the jail authorities will help. He will also discuss this matter with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
The correctional facility has a fixed time for prisoners to meet with family members. If someone brings enumeration forms during that time, the prison department staff will help to fill them out. Jail authorities will also help with attaching photographs to the forms.
