Karnataka SIR: 61,059 voter deletion forms filed without reasons

Bengaluru: Election officials in Karnataka submitted 61,059 applications to remove names from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) without specifying grounds for deletion, raising concerns over compliance with voter registration rules, according to a report by The Hindu.

Under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, applications seeking voter deletion must state the reason for the request. However, electoral registration officers and their assistants reportedly said the forms were generated automatically when voters could not be contacted during hearings related to mapping gaps or discrepancies in voter records.

The officials said they were instructed to seek deletions in cases involving migration, duplicate registrations, underage voters, deaths or non-citizenship. But the reasons were left blank on the system-generated forms.

More than 60,000 applications were filed between September 24 and October 22, after the deadline for claims and objections to the draft electoral roll had passed. Over 50,000 were submitted in the final week of that period.

The report also found instances in which voters’ names were removed following objections filed after the September 23 deadline. Such applications were meant to be considered for a supplementary roll, rather than the final list. It remains unclear whether the affected voters received notices or formal deletion orders.

Officials filed more Form 7 applications than voters or third parties in at least 26 Assembly constituencies. The highest number was recorded in Bengaluru South district.

The developments have renewed concerns over transparency and the potential exclusion of eligible voters during the revision process.