SIR: 1.08 cr electors deleted from Karnataka draft voter roll

Bengaluru: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka has been completed, with 1,07,96,339 electors marked under the Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate, and Others (ASDDO) category and excluded from the draft electoral roll.

Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukumar said on Monday, August 24, that the draft roll now contains 5,54,32,314 electors, while 1,07,96,339 names have been placed under categories including permanently shifted, absent, deceased, already enrolled elsewhere, and other reasons.

Of those marked under ASDDO, 65,45,679 electors were identified as permanently shifted, while 16,39,864 were reported dead. Another 15,17,042 electors were marked absent, and 7,09,870 were identified as already enrolled elsewhere. A further 3,83,884 electors were placed under the ‘other’ category.

4.46 crore enumeration forms digitised

The exercise involved house-to-house verification and digitisation of enumeration forms. According to the Election Commission data, 4,46,35,975 enumeration forms were digitised, accounting for about 80.52 per cent of the earlier electorate.

Anbukumar clarified that being placed in the ASDDO category does not mean that an elector has been permanently deleted from the electoral rolls. The draft publication has now opened a period for claims and objections.

43,81,335 lakh electors to receive notices

The CEO said 43,81,335 electors whose enumeration forms contained discrepancies or whose details could not be mapped would receive notices. They will be given an opportunity to submit the required documents and establish their eligibility.

Electors whose names have been left out can seek inclusion by submitting Form 6, along with the prescribed declaration, subject to eligibility. Corrections can be sought through Form 8, while objections to wrongful inclusion can be filed through Form 7.

Claims and objections open till Sep 23

The claims and objections process will remain open until September 23. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 27 after disposal of claims and objections.

The Election Commission has also clarified that no elector’s name can be deleted from the draft roll without notice and an opportunity to be heard. Any deletion must follow due process and a speaking order by the Electoral Registration Officer or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer.