Karnataka’s final electoral rolls have recorded 4,55,00,011 electors after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a reduction of 99.32 lakh from the earlier count, according to Chief Electoral Officer Anbukumar. The final publication was issued on Tuesday after a house-to-house verification exercise conducted across the state by the Election Commission of India.
Before the revision began, Karnataka had 5,54,32,314 electors, while the final roll lists 4,55,00,011. The Election Commission said the revised figure reflects the removal of ineligible entries, including names of voters who were absent, deceased, duplicated, shifted or already enrolled elsewhere.
The final total is, however, 8,19,714 higher than the draft electoral roll published in August. The draft had listed 4,46,35,975 electors. The number of service electors also increased from 44,176 in the draft to 44,322 in the final roll.
Anbukumar said no eligible voter had been deleted through bulk submissions using Form 7, responding to allegations raised by political parties, including the ruling Congress in Karnataka. He said Form 7 could not be auto-generated and that only an Electoral Registration Officer or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer could initiate deletion proceedings after issuing a speaking order.
The final roll includes 2,25,40,493 male electors and 2,29,12,355 female electors, along with 2,841 third-gender electors. It also includes 3,252 overseas electors, 6,83,364 young electors aged between 18 and 19 years, 3,92,134 electors aged 85 years and above, and 5,65,340 persons with disabilities.
The enumeration phase of the SIR was conducted from June 30 to August 17. The exercise involved Booth Level Officers carrying out house-to-house verification, with the stated objective of creating an accurate, authentic and inclusive electoral roll. The process is part of the Election Commission’s continuing system of updating electoral records through Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8.
Anbukumar urged eligible residents aged 18 and above who are missing from the roll to apply through Form 6. He said applications would be examined and certified by the officials concerned before enrolment. Voters who believe they have been wrongly excluded can first appeal to the District Election Officer and subsequently to the Chief Electoral Officer.
The Chief Electoral Officer said 361 first appeals had been filed so far. Of these, nine had been disposed of and 352 remained pending. No appeal had yet been filed before the Chief Electoral Officer. Anbukumar also said 14 officials had died while performing duties during the SIR exercise and that the Election Commission of India would be requested to provide ex gratia assistance to their families.
