Karnataka SIR final list released, 99.32 lakh names deleted:List has 4.55 crore voters; down from 5.54 crore before revision

The final voter list has been released in Karnataka following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). It includes 4.55 crore voters. Before the SIR, the state had 5.54 crore voters. This means the number of voters in the final list has fallen by 99.32 lakh. The final list was released on Tuesday, 27 October. It includes 2.26 crore men, 2.29 crore women and 2,841 third-gender voters. This figure is around 17.92% lower than the initial voter list. The draft list released on 24 August included 4.46 crore general voters. The draft list had 1.08 crore fewer voters than the number recorded before the SIR. After claims and objections were considered, 8.64 lakh voters were added to the final list. Despite this, the final list still has around one crore fewer voters than the number recorded before the SIR. Verification conducted door to door Between 30 June and 17 August, 60,923 Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) conducted door-to-door verification. During this process, enumeration forms were prepared for 5.54 crore voters. Of these, 4.46 crore voters submitted their forms. This represents 80.52% of the total. 1.08 crore voters did not submit the forms. They account for 19.48% of the total and were not included in the draft list. The data from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka, also indicated the possible reasons for this. Among them, 19.01 lakh voters were found to be absent. In addition, 65.46 lakh voters had permanently moved elsewhere. A total of 16.40 lakh voters had died. A total of 7.10 lakh names were found to be duplicates or already registered. Changes after claims and objections A total of 10.08 lakh names were added during the claims and objections period. Of these, 8.77 lakh names were added through Form 6, 2,312 through Form 6A and 1.29 lakh through Form 8 for changes of address. During the process, 1.88 lakh names were deleted. Changes or corrections were made to 8.97 lakh names. Notices were issued to 43.83 lakh voters when their details did not match during verification. According to the CEO’s office, all the notices were delivered and hearings were also held. After verification, 61,867 voters were found ineligible for inclusion in the final list. Facility to check names and file appeals The CEO’s office has asked voters to check their names. The names can be checked at the offices of the Electoral Registration Officer, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer and BLOs. The final electoral roll is also available on the CEO Karnataka website and the Election Commission’s Voter Services Portal. Anyone dissatisfied with the Electoral Registration Officer’s decision can appeal to the District Magistrate under Section 24(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. A second appeal can then be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer under Section 24(b). This information was provided in a statement issued by the office. Process implemented across 224 assembly seats The process was carried out across all 224 Assembly seats in Karnataka. According to the CEO’s office, election officials, BLOs and representatives of seven recognised political parties took part in it. These parties include AAP, BSP, BJP, CPI(M), INC, NPP and JD(S). The CEO office thanked the BLOs for conducting door-to-door verification of 5.54 crore voters and hearings for 43.83 lakh voters. The office also expressed gratitude to voters for their cooperation. It reiterated the objective of the SIR: “No eligible citizen should be left out and no ineligible person should be included in the electoral roll.” Congress voices opposition Meanwhile, the Congress has strongly criticised the entire process. Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that protecting voters was the duty of the state government and the party. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking a halt to the SIR process being conducted across the country and the suspension of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. He has alleged irregularities in the process.