Karnataka Draft Electoral Rolls Published with Over 1 Crore Names Deleted

Karnataka has published its draft electoral rolls as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), resulting in a shrunk electorate of 4.46 crore voters. Approximately 1.08 crore names were removed during the enumeration phase, with the majority marked as absent, shifted, duplicate, dead, or others (ASDDO). According to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar, the current electorate consists of 2.22 crore males, 2.24 crore females, and 2,871 others. Deletions were most significant in urban areas, with Bengaluru experiencing a 42.5 percent drop in its elector count.

Following the enumeration phase, notices will be served to 43.81 lakh voters whose forms contained logical discrepancies or could not be mapped. The process from the generation of a notice to its service must be completed within seven days, and voters must attend the hearing in person. A center-left source frames this requirement as a potential burden on vulnerable groups, such as senior citizens, laborers, and persons with disabilities, noting that there is currently no online option to check if a person is likely to receive a notice. A center-right source focuses on the scale of the deletions, noting that if an additional 4.4 million people with discrepancies are removed in the final stage, the total deletion would reach 27.4 percent.

As part of the revision, the number of polling stations in Karnataka increased by 1,873 after rationalisation. Each station will now hold a maximum of 1,200 voters. Voters who cannot find their names in their current booth are advised to search using their EPIC details. The claims and objections phase began on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on September 23. Voters aggrieved by the decisions of an Electoral Registration Officer may appeal to the District Election Officer or Deputy Commissioner within 15 days, and subsequently to the Chief Electoral Officer within 30 days.