The first draft electoral roll of Karnataka is likely to see the exclusion of approximately 1.08 crore voters, following the completion of a house-to-house enumeration initiated by the Election Commission under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) programme. This initiative aimed to ensure the accuracy of the electoral rolls and verified the details of voters across the state.

Commencing on June 30, the SIR programme involved Booth Level Officers conducting door-to-door visits throughout Karnataka. By the conclusion of this enumeration exercise, a total of 5,54,32,314 forms were distributed, while 4,46,00,369 forms have already been digitised, providing a comprehensive view of the voter base in the state.

During the exercise, the authorities identified 1,08,31,945 voters categorised under ASDDO, encompassing those who are Absent, Shifted, Deceased, Duplicate, or fall under Other classifications. This identification process highlighted voters who could not be matched or verified through the enumeration process.

Details of Voter Exclusions Identified

The findings from the enumeration revealed that among the assessed voters, 15,28,985 were deemed untraceable, indicating the difficulties in verifying their current status. Additionally, 65,61,607 voters reported permanent changes to their registered addresses and could no longer be considered eligible at their previous locations.

Moreover, the enumeration identified 16,38,839 voters who were deceased and a further 7,07,792 voters marked as duplicates or potentially fraudulent. An additional 3,94,722 voters were listed under other categories needing further investigation. Such segmentation is essential in maintaining an updated and accurate electoral roll, which is critical for upcoming elections.

The data collected will inform the first draft electoral roll, which is set to be published on August 24. Following its release, there will be a month-long period during which voters and political parties can contest the exclusions and seek corrections regarding their voter status.

Claim and Objection Process for Voters

After the deadline for objections, the Election Commission will review all submissions and make necessary updates before the final electoral roll is published on October 27. This final roll will determine the list of voters eligible to participate in the electoral process.

It is important to note that the identification of over one crore voters under various categories does not guarantee their removal from the final electoral roll. Voters affected by the enumeration exercise will be provided a fair chance to present their cases during the claims and objections phase, ensuring a transparent validation process.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share