The electoral rolls in Karnataka have started undergoing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) led by over 59,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs). This month-long door-to-door verification exercise aims to maintain the accuracy and completeness of the state’s electoral rolls. Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar kickstarted the campaign in Bengaluru by filling out his Enumeration Form and encouraging all eligible voters to participate.
Karnataka is one of the regions where the Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting this Special Intensive Revision, with October 1, 2026, as the reference date. The house-to-house enumeration process will run from June 30 to July 29, with BLOs visiting every household in their designated polling areas to distribute Enumeration Forms.
An extensive administrative network is involved in this exercise, including various officials like District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, and Booth Level Officers. The state currently has over 55 million registered electors, all of whom will be covered under this Special Intensive Revision. During the verification process, BLOs will distribute Enumeration Forms and use color-coded stickers to indicate the status of their visits.
The draft electoral roll is scheduled to be published on August 5, followed by a month for filing claims and objections until September 4. After addressing all claims and objections, the final electoral roll will be published on October 7. Meanwhile, Karnataka’s Minister for Home Priyank Kharge has raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the current SIR framework.
Kharge has urged the Election Commission to conduct an independent review of the revision process before its implementation in Karnataka. He emphasized the need for clear guidelines, extended timelines for form submission, and safeguards against arbitrary removal of voters. The Minister also called for transparency in decision-making processes and the use of AI tools, along with special considerations for vulnerable groups in the electoral process.
