SIR in Karnataka: Just 9% of deleted voters apply to return

BENGALURU: Just 10.07 lakh Form 6 applications for inclusion in Karnataka’s electoral rolls have been received since the rolls were frozen on June 16 for the special intensive revision (SIR) — barely 9% of the 1.07 crore voters struck off the draft rolls under the ASDDO (absent, shifted, dead or duplicate) category.For voters deleted under ASDDO, filing Form 6 as a new voter was the only route back onto the rolls before the claims and objections deadline of Sept 23. Of the total applications received, 7.86 lakh came in before the deadline, chief electoral officer Anbu Kumar had said earlier. Once verified and processed, these applicants will also be included in the final SIR rolls.However, the number of applicants who were actually deleted under ASDDO remains unknown.

An official from the CEO’s office said Friday that this couldn’t be calculated because the database was now with the Election Commission of India (ECI), and the state office no longer had access to it. The 9% figure, therefore, overstates the recovery, as Form 6 is also used by first-time voters never on the rolls.Uneven recoveryCEO data available until Oct 16 showed wide variations across districts. Udupi, at 26.3%, was the only district where Form 6 applications exceeded 25% of ASDDO deletions.

It was followed by Dakshina Kannada (23.6%), Uttara Kannada (18.2%), Chikkamagaluru (16.3%), and Tumakuru (16.1%).Bengaluru is likely to have the lowest replacement rate. Form 6 applications amounted to just 4.6% of ASDDO deletions in BBMP South, 5.6% in BBMP Central, and 6.1% in BBMP North. Bellary recorded 6.6% and Bengaluru Urban, 6.7%.Mop-up plannedForm 6 has been made available to all voters not enrolled elsewhere, including those in the ASDDO category. The CEO’s office plans a mop-up exercise after the final SIR rolls are published on Oct 27 to enrol voters who were missed.

With the final rolls due in days, the low return rate — particularly in Bengaluru’s urban constituencies — is likely to draw scrutiny over how many eligible voters may be left out of the revised list.