Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, June 29: Karnataka is set to enter a massive statewide electoral roll overhaul as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process moves into its field verification phase from June 30, with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) beginning door-to-door visits across the state to verify, update and correct voter data ahead of the final electoral roll publication.
The exercise, also being conducted simultaneously in Delhi, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Jharkhand, will continue in Karnataka till July 29, during which BLOs will distribute customised enumeration forms and collect updated voter information directly from households.
The office of the chief electoral officer (CEO), Karnataka, has printed over 11 crore pre-filled, QR-coded forms for the state’s 5,55,74,064 electors. Each voter will receive two copies of a personalised form—one to be retained by the elector after verification and signature by the BLO, and the second to be submitted for official processing.
Election officials said the SIR process will include verification of existing voter details, correction of errors, inclusion of new eligible voters, and removal of names of deceased individuals and those who have permanently shifted residence.
Chief electoral officer V Anbukkumar said strict procedures have been put in place to ensure transparency. He stated that enumeration forms will be handed only to the elector or authorised family members, and not to neighbours or third parties. In select cases, forms may be placed inside the household, while locked homes will be marked with stickers carrying BLO contact details so voters can later collect their forms.
He further said BLOs will directly contact electors through their registered official mobile numbers if they are not available during visits. “These calls will not be made from call centres, but only from official BLO numbers to ensure authenticity,” he noted.
Each form carries a unique QR code linked to the elector’s data. At the time of submission, voters can provide any one of the approved identity documents, including Aadhaar, voter ID (EPIC), passport, birth certificate, educational certificates from recognised institutions and other officially accepted proofs.
The Election Commission has also clarified the status of passports amid recent confusion. Officials confirmed that the passport remains a valid identity document under the SIR process and continues to be included among the 12 approved documents.
An Election Commission official said the passport “has always been and continues to be a valid proof of identity”, adding that there is no change in its status. The clarification comes after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that while a passport is not proof of citizenship under the Passport Act, 1967, it remains a travel document that may indicate nationality but does not establish citizenship.
Officials stressed that the distinction between citizenship proof and identity verification has no impact on its acceptance under electoral revision norms.
This is the ninth Special Intensive Revision conducted in Karnataka, the last having been held in 2002. The present exercise uses both the 2002 electoral database and the 2023 voter roll as reference points.
According to CEO office data, Karnataka has achieved 91.56% voter mapping, the second highest in India after Odisha. Excluding Greater Bengaluru Authority limits, mapping is expected to reach 94%, while Bengaluru’s GBA region stands at 75%. Officials said mapping will continue alongside field verification until the draft roll is published on August 5.
The SIR exercise is also being closely monitored, with 59,050 BLOs, around 6,000 supervisors and 72,058 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) deployed by political parties. In a recent video conference with party representatives, 160 participants took part.
Officials added that voter facilitation centres have been set up at ward and grama panchayat levels, along with dedicated BLO facilitation centres for uploading and processing forms. While the Special Summary Revision has been kept in abeyance during the SIR period, BLOs will continue to carry Form 6 for new voter enrolments.
SIR timeline
- June 30 – July 29: Door-to-door verification by BLOs
- August 5: Draft electoral roll publication
- August 5 – September 4: Claims and objections
- August 5 – October 3: Disposal of claims and objections
- October 7: Final electoral roll publication
Officials have urged citizens to keep documents such as Aadhaar, voter ID, passport, address proof, photographs and supporting identity records ready to ensure smooth verification during the exercise.