That’s the reality in West Bengal, where the Chief Electoral Officer just asked the Election Commission for clarity on whether these voters can be included in a brand-new drive to re-enroll people accidentally struck off. This isn’t just paperwork. It’s democracy in slow motion. Over 9 million names were deleted during the recent voter revision; many under questionable categories like ‘duplicate’ or ‘non-existent’. While the EC launched a one-month ‘catch-up’ window for people to reapply, the 3.8 million with pending tribunal appeals are stuck in limbo. Even more concerning? Of the 38 lakh appeals, only 1.26 lakh have been resolved. And three of the 19 tribunals have lost their retired judge chairs; meaning the backlog is growing, not shrinking. The EC’s silence so far leaves voters, activists, and even polling officers in uncertainty. If these names don’t get reinstated soon; or if the tribunals can’t catch up; it could reshape voter participation in the next elections. For now, the question remains: Can a democracy function when millions are waiting for their voice to be heard?