New Delhi, April 20 -- Nearly 500,000 new voters were added to West Bengal's electoral rolls between the publication of the final list on February 28 and the close of nominations, according to senior officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The additions came from around 709,000 Form-6 applications, submitted across the two phases of nominations. After verification, about 500,000 applicants were found eligible and included in the rolls, reflecting the Commission's rolling enrolment process that allows registrations until nominations close.

When the final electoral roll was published on February 28, 188,207 new voters were included through this form. Over the following month, as the nomination process progressed, a further 50...