Election officials in Karnataka have flagged around 43.8 lakh voters during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with notices generated for records affected by spelling mismatches, logical discrepancies or the absence of mapping with the 2002 voter data.
Among those listed under the “no-mapping” category are entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani and members of his family, Bengaluru South City Corporation officials said. The notices were generated because details of their names were not found in the 2002 electoral rolls, according to the report.
BSCC commissioner Ramesh KN said officials would examine the records and resolve discrepancies if the relevant information was available. “I am not aware of the status of the notices… I will check the details,” he said.
The Election Commission has also clarified that no notice was issued to Bharat Ratna scientist Prof CNR Rao, after reports claimed he had received one in connection with the SIR exercise in Bengaluru’s Malleswaram Assembly constituency.
District election officer and Greater Bengaluru Authority chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao said senior election officials had personally delivered enumeration forms to Rao and his family at their residence. The required information was completed there, and Rao’s office confirmed that he had not received a notice.
Officials found a spelling mismatch while comparing Rao’s current electoral record with the 2002 rolls. In the older record, his name was listed as Rama, while his current registration identifies him as Prof CN Rao M. Maheshwar Rao said Rao’s name had also been included in the draft electoral rolls.
According to the election official, the booth-level officer recommended Rao’s inclusion in the final electoral roll without issuing a notice, and the required process had been initiated. The discrepancy was therefore being handled through the verification process rather than a formal hearing.
The notices across Karnataka have been generated for several types of data issues. These include spelling differences, logical discrepancies such as system-flagged errors involving age gaps between family members, and cases where voter records could not be mapped to the 2002 electoral data.
Officials said the Election Commission’s software system generates notices automatically from the available records and does not distinguish between prominent individuals and other voters. However, when a booth-level officer identifies that a notice has been generated for a high-profile voter, the notice may not be served. Instead, the officer can visit the voter’s residence, verify the records and complete the process there.
The SIR exercise is continuing across Karnataka, with officials examining voter information and addressing discrepancies before the final electoral rolls are prepared.
