Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan U. Kelkar, has strongly denied media claims of widespread voter exclusion from electoral rolls. Kelkar emphasized the Election Commission’s commitment to conducting fair elections and ensuring the inclusion of all eligible citizens. He cautioned against the spread of misinformation that could cause unwarranted fear among the public during the ongoing electoral roll revision.
Kelkar highlighted the importance of accurate reporting to maintain public trust in the electoral process. He reassured that the Election Commission is dedicated to including every eligible citizen in the electoral roll and has measures in place to prevent disenfranchisement. Kelkar urged media outlets to report responsibly and avoid speculative narratives that could misrepresent routine administrative procedures mandated by election law.
Addressing concerns about deadlines for submitting enumeration forms, Kelkar clarified that voters failing to meet the timeframe can still file Form 6 during the claims and objections period from December 23, 2025, to January 22, 2026. This clarification aims to dispel fears of automatic exclusion due to missed deadlines and encourages active participation in the electoral process.
The recent draft electoral roll in Kerala revealed over 2.54 crore voters, including approximately 1.3 crore women, 1.23 crore men, and 280 transgender voters. Despite the removal of 24.08 lakh names from the draft roll, the Election Commission has received around 2.18 lakh applications for inclusion, indicating public engagement with the revision process. The claims and objections window exists to rectify any errors, omissions, or wrongful exclusions in the electoral roll.
