Karnataka SIR: Civil society report flags large-scale voter deletions, ground-level discrepancies

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The Anti-SIR Alliance and the Citizens’ Vote Protection Committee have raised questions over the scale of the deletions, particularly the large number of voters categorised as “Shifted” and “Absent”. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J

An investigation report by the Anti-SIR Alliance and the Citizens’ Vote Protection Committee has flagged what it describes as large-scale deletions and discrepancies in Karnataka’s electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The report, based on electoral-roll data, a survey of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and ground verification across 100 polling booths in 25 districts, says Karnataka’s electorate fell from 5,52,49,719 voters in 2025 to 4,44,53,380 in the draft roll — a reduction of about 19.5%.

The organisations have raised questions over the scale of the deletions, particularly the large number of voters categorised as “Shifted” and “Absent”.

According to the report, 65,45,679 voters were classified as “Shifted”, 16,39,864 as “Dead”, 15,17,042 as “Absent”, 7,09,870 as “Duplicate” and 3,83,884 under “Others”.

The report says the “Shifted” category warrants particular scrutiny, arguing that people who move for employment or change rented accommodation should have an opportunity to transfer their registration rather than being removed from the rolls.

The committee also points to the difficulties faced by migrant workers who may not be present at home when BLOs conduct verification.

The report found that some eligible voters did not receive enumeration forms and that several voters were unaware that their names had been removed from the draft roll. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J

The Citizens’ Vote Protection Committee said its house-to-house verification found instances where voters living at their registered addresses had allegedly been marked as “Shifted” or “Absent”. It also claimed that some living voters had been recorded under the “Dead” category.

The report found that some eligible voters did not receive enumeration forms and that several voters were unaware that their names had been removed from the draft roll.

The organisations have acknowledged that their survey covered only a small proportion of Karnataka’s polling booths and called for wider verification.

The report has separately highlighted Bengaluru, where it says the electorate fell from 1,11,16,111 to 48,48,574 in the draft roll.

The committee has questioned the scale of the reduction in a city that has witnessed substantial population growth and inward migration and has sought a detailed official explanation.

The report claimed that deletions were particularly high in some backward districts and constituencies with sizable SC, ST and Muslim populations.

It pointed out that women were disproportionately represented in the “Shifted” category, partly because of changes in residence after marriage.

The organisations have raised concerns about the impact of the revision on nomadic communities, Adivasis, Dalits, migrant workers, Muslims and people living in informal settlements.

The report also highlighted the burden on BLOs, many of whom are teachers and Anganwadi workers.

It said 23% of BLOs surveyed received no training, while 38% of those who received training were trained for less than a day. More than 80% reportedly said they could not cope with the workload.

The report also referred to the deaths of five BLOs, which it attributes to work pressure and mental distress. The circumstances and causes of those deaths would require independent verification.

The report stated that 43 lakh voters received notices — 23 lakh over alleged non-mapping with the 2002 electoral roll and another 20 lakh under the “Logical Discrepancy” category.

It also records 7,70,988 Form 6 applications submitted by September 24, covering both restoration requests and new voters. The committee said the figures warrant closer examination as the revision process progresses.

The report has called for an independent assessment to establish the extent of any wrongful exclusion from the electoral rolls.

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