Karnataka SIR: EC completes hearings, final voter list on Oct 27

The authorities reported that the hearing process for all distributed notices was completed across the state, with no pending cases remaining.

Bengaluru: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka has reached its final stage, with the deadline for filing objections ending on October 22. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 27, the State Election Commission has announced.

According to the Commission’s press release, notices were issued to voters as part of the verification process. The authorities reported that the hearing process for all distributed notices was completed across the state, with no pending cases remaining.

Between June 16 and October 22, a total of 25,87,461 applications were received under various categories relating to electoral registration and corrections.

Of these, 10,42,863 Form 6 applications were submitted for inclusion of names of new voters in the electoral roll. Another 4,840 Form 6A applications were received for registration of Indian citizens residing abroad.

The Commission also received 2,28,917 Form 7 applications seeking objections to the inclusion of names or the deletion of names from the electoral roll. In addition, 13,10,841 Form 8 applications were submitted for corrections to details such as names and addresses.

The Commission said all Form 7 applications received up to September 23 had been taken up on priority and disposed of after examination. The processing of these applications has been under scrutiny amid concerns about the possible misuse of Form 7 to seek the deletion of voters’ names.

The notice distribution and hearing process has been completed in all districts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru Central and Bengaluru South. The process has also been completed in all zones under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).

With the hearing stage completed and the objection period closed, the electoral authorities are preparing to publish the final voter list on October 27. The upcoming publication will mark a crucial stage in the revision exercise, which has attracted political attention over applications seeking the inclusion and deletion of names.

The Commission’s announcement provides an update on the scale of applications received and the completion of notice hearings ahead of the final electoral roll.