SIR: CM Shivakumar writes to ECI, seeks more time to file claims to draft voter rolls

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to extend the deadline for filing claims and objections to Karnataka’s draft electoral rolls, published on Monday after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Shivakumar said more time was needed to ensure that genuine voters were not excluded from the rolls. He also sought wider verification mechanisms and additional manpower to handle the expected surge in claims and objections.

The SIR has flagged nearly 1.08 crore of Karnataka’s 5.54 crore electors under the Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate and Others (ASDDO) category. In addition, around 43.8 lakh electors are expected to receive notices over “logical discrepancies” or the absence of a link to the 2002 electoral roll. In Bengaluru alone, 46.88 lakh electors have been classified under ASDDO.


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The CM said a substantial number of voters marked “Absent” could be genuine electors who were away from home when Booth Level Officers visited. Those who had shifted polling stations may also have been deleted from their previous addresses without getting an opportunity to submit forms at their new residences.

He said the issue was particularly significant for migrants, workers and other citizens who frequently change addresses, arguing that “mobility should not translate into disenfranchisement”.

The chief minister asked the ECI to extend the claims and objections period and give voters facing verification for at least three to four weeks to respond and furnish documents. He also urged the Chief Electoral Officer to ensure that Ward Committee meetings in urban areas and Gram Sabhas in rural areas are held with adequate publicity so omissions and errors can be identified.

Shivakumar sought additional Electoral Registration Officers and, where required, District Election Officers in areas with high ASDDO and logical-discrepancy cases.

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The state government, he said, was ready to provide logistical support, mobilise local administration and undertake public outreach to help voters establish their eligibility.

The objective, the CM said, should be an electoral roll that includes every eligible voter while removing ineligible entries without depriving citizens of their franchise for lack of adequate time or information.