Bengaluru: More than 54 lakh applications have been submitted during Karnataka’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, but no voter has been deleted from the electoral roll so far, Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar has said.
The large number of applications has come amid political controversy over Form 7 requests seeking deletion of names from the electoral roll. The Election Commission has maintained that no voter can be removed merely because a Form 7 objection has been filed and that due process, including notice and an opportunity for a hearing, must be followed before any deletion.
54.2 lakh applications submitted
The SIR exercise has generated a significant number of applications covering additions, deletions and corrections to electoral records.
The applications include different forms prescribed by the Election Commission for updating electoral rolls. Form 6 is used for inclusion of names, Form 7 for objections or deletion requests, and Form 8 for corrections and other changes.
As of October 4, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office had received 22,05,171 applications in the relevant claims-and-objections process, including 91,278 Form 7 applications, 11,98,484 Form 8 applications, 9,10,732 Form 6 applications and 4,677 Form 6A applications.
The larger figure of around 54.2 lakh relates to applications and forms submitted during the broader revision exercise, rather than representing requests to delete 54 lakh voters.
No voter deleted through Form 7 so far
The clarification from the Chief Electoral Officer comes against concerns over alleged attempts to remove large numbers of names from the electoral roll.
Anbukkumar said no name had been deleted from the electoral rolls through the Form 7 process so far.
He said Electoral Registration Officers had been instructed to follow the prescribed procedure for every application. The process requires authorities to examine the application before taking a decision on deletion.
The CEO has also said that action will be taken against those who submit false information with the intention of getting a voter’s name removed.
Form 7 applications cross 91,000
The number of Form 7 applications increased substantially during the SIR process.
According to the Election Commission data, Karnataka received 91,278 Form 7 applications between June 16 and October 4. This was up from 58,220 applications recorded up to September 23.
Form 7 can be used to object to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll or seek deletion of an existing entry.
The increase in applications has attracted political attention because some complaints have alleged that applications were filed in bulk using details of voters who had not actually shifted residence or become ineligible.
However, the submission of a Form 7 application does not automatically result in deletion.
Seven-day notice and hearing process
The election authorities have explained that a voter cannot simply be removed after an objection is submitted.
According to the CEO, a notice is issued to the elector concerned as well as the person who filed the objection. Both sides are given an opportunity to respond.
The authorities then examine the available information before an Electoral Registration Officer passes a reasoned order.
The decision can also be challenged before higher election authorities.
The procedure is intended to ensure that eligible voters are not removed from the electoral roll merely because somebody has submitted an objection against their name.
Bulk Form 7 submissions under scrutiny
The controversy surrounding the SIR intensified after election authorities received complaints about large numbers of Form 7 applications being submitted together.
The CEO’s office has sought information from district election officers and Electoral Registration Officers about the categories of deletion requests and the manner in which bulk applications were submitted.
Anbukkumar said the issue of bulk Form 7 filings came to his attention only recently and that inquiries had been ordered into allegations involving false statements.
The authorities are examining whether any applications contain incorrect information or were submitted with an intention to improperly influence the electoral rolls.
Individual and political party limits
Election authorities have also clarified the limits applicable to Form 7 applications.
An individual objector can submit a maximum of 10 applications, while a Booth Level Agent (BLA) appointed by a registered political party can submit up to 50 applications.
The existence of these limits means that multiple applications can legally be submitted by authorised individuals and party representatives. However, the information provided in the applications remains subject to verification.
Authorities have said that false information used to seek deletion can attract action.
More than 43 lakh SIR notices delivered
The SIR exercise has also involved notices to voters whose names fall under categories such as “No Mapping” and “Anomalies”.
As of October 5, 43,82,313 notices had been generated across Karnataka, of which 43,55,818 had been delivered. Another 26,495 notices were yet to be delivered.
The election authorities said hearings had already been completed for 36,89,063 applications, while 6,66,755 remained pending as of the latest update.
The last date for hearings has been set for October 12, while the deadline for disposal of claims and objections in the current phase is October 22.
Final electoral roll due on October 27
The revised electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 27.
Applications received up to the relevant cut-off will be processed as part of the current exercise, while applications received later will be considered during subsequent electoral roll revision processes.
This means the current figures do not represent the final number of additions, deletions or corrections that will eventually appear in the electoral roll.
The election authorities have emphasised that the SIR process is intended to identify eligible voters, remove duplicate or ineligible entries and correct electoral records while protecting the rights of genuine electors.
Political controversy continues
The Form 7 issue has become politically contentious in Karnataka.
The Congress has raised concerns about alleged attempts to remove legitimate voters through bulk applications, while the BJP and JD(S) have questioned cases and complaints directed against people associated with the submission of Form 7 applications.
Police cases have also been registered in Bengaluru over allegations of fraudulent Form 7 applications. In Jayanagar, for example, an FIR was registered following allegations involving applications seeking deletion of 5,698 voters. The allegations remain subject to investigation.
A separate case was also registered in Malleswaram over alleged irregularities involving 778 voter deletion applications.
These cases are separate from the electoral authorities’ administrative process and do not establish that the allegations are true.
Election authorities stress due process
With the SIR process entering a crucial stage, the election machinery faces the task of processing a large volume of applications while ensuring that eligible voters are not wrongly removed.
The CEO has repeatedly stated that every deletion request must go through the prescribed verification process.
The emphasis on notices and hearings is particularly important because Form 7 applications can be submitted by individuals and authorised political party representatives. The actual deletion decision rests with the election authorities after examination of the case.
The final electoral roll will therefore depend not simply on the number of applications submitted but on the outcome of the verification and hearing process.
Conclusion
Karnataka’s SIR exercise has received a large number of applications covering voter inclusion, deletion and corrections, while 91,278 Form 7 applications seeking deletion or raising objections were recorded up to October 4.
Despite concerns over bulk deletion requests, Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar has said that no voter has been deleted through the Form 7 process so far. Authorities are required to issue notices, conduct hearings and verify claims before deciding on any deletion.
The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 27, with the current claims and objections process continuing through October.