States » SouthPosted at: Sep 17 2026 6:53PM


SIR turning voter verification into exclusion, KPCC alleges

Bengaluru, Sept 17 (UNI) The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka is turning into a potential exercise in voter exclusion rather than mere verification, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) alleged on Thursday, citing glaring discrepancies in a polling part and seeking an immediate statewide review.
In a representation to the Chief Electoral Officer, KPCC Media and Communication Department Chairman and former MLC Ramesh Babu said the discrepancies reported during SIR raised serious questions about whether eligible voters could be left out because of mapping errors, incorrect classification or administrative lapses.
The Congress cited Assembly Constituency No. 153, Part No. 512, as an illustrative case. According to the figures submitted by the party, the polling part has 1,016 voters, but only 654 enumeration forms were received and uploaded.
As per the representation, 339 voters were classified as permanently shifted, 19 as deceased and 265 as "unmapped with the last SIR", leaving 389 voters in the reported valid category.
The Congress said this meant around 62 per cent of the electorate in the particular polling part was outside the reported valid category, and demanded a voter-wise reconciliation of the figures.
"These figures raise serious questions concerning the completeness, accuracy and reconciliation of electoral records," the representation said.
The party particularly questioned the classification of 265 voters as unmapped and the notices issued to them, calling for an explanation of how such voters were identified and verified.
KPCC alleged that similar problems were being reported from different parts of Karnataka, including cases where enumeration forms were not received or properly accounted for, eligible voters were shown as unmapped, voters were classified as permanently shifted without adequate verification and deceased classifications required confirmation.
It also alleged that voters and political representatives were facing difficulties in obtaining information from Booth Level Officers, Supervisors, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Electoral Registration Officers.
The Congress sought an immediate statewide review, polling-part-wise statistical reports and special verification of all unmapped voters. It also demanded verification of shifted and deceased classifications, effective grievance-redressal mechanisms and greater transparency in accessing individual voter records.
The party further sought adequate time for corrections, action against administrative lapses and a time-bound action-taken report from the election authorities.
KPCC said administrative difficulties, mapping errors, incomplete enumeration or communication failures should not result in the wrongful exclusion of genuine voters.
The representation urged the Chief Electoral Officer to treat the cited polling-part case not as an isolated discrepancy but as a trigger for a comprehensive statewide examination of the SIR process.
UNI BDN
Tags: #SIR turning voter verification into exclusion# KPCC alleges
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