Mangaluru: Electoral registration officers (EROs) in Dakshina Kannada have identified 1,217 voters as ineligible for inclusion in the final electoral roll during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to figures available as of October 15.
The district administration is working to complete the verification process within the stipulated deadline, with hearings underway to resolve discrepancies in voter details. Officials have expedited the delivery of notices and deployed additional personnel to ensure that cases are examined before the revision exercise concludes.
The draft electoral roll for Dakshina Kannada contains 16,46,387 voters, including 8,07,600 men, 8,38,768 women and 19 third-gender voters.
Officials generated 1,50,131 notices over discrepancies identified during the scrutiny of electoral records. All the notices have been delivered, and October 22 is the deadline for completing the hearings.
1.49 lakh hearings completed
According to the district’s latest figures, hearings have been completed for 1,49,493 notices. However, 308 individuals have missed their hearing deadlines for the second time.
The administration has been taking steps to speed up the verification process and ensure that the cases are addressed within the prescribed period.
To strengthen the exercise, an additional 148 assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) have been deployed to conduct hearings and complete the verification work.
The hearings are intended to give voters an opportunity to clarify discrepancies in their records and submit relevant supporting documents. The outcome of these proceedings will determine whether the flagged entries can be retained in the final electoral roll.
Officials have urged affected voters to cooperate with the authorities and complete the necessary formalities within the stipulated timeframe.
Logical discrepancies and mapping issues
Of the voters flagged during the scrutiny, 595 have been categorised as ineligible for inclusion in the final electoral roll due to logical discrepancies. Another 621 have been categorised as ineligible owing to a lack of mapping with the previous SIR.
The notices were issued for several types of discrepancies identified during the revision process.
These include differences in the recorded ages of parents and grandparents, gaps between the ages of parents and their children, and mismatches in voters’ names. Cases involving the absence of mapping with the previous SIR were also flagged.
In addition, the verification exercise covers ASDD cases, which involve voters whose entries are classified as absent, shifted, deceased or duplicate.
Such discrepancies require verification to establish the accuracy of electoral records and determine whether the entries meet the requirements for inclusion in the revised list.
Officials are examining the cases through hearings and the verification of supporting documents. Voters whose records have been flagged are expected to provide the necessary clarifications to establish their eligibility.
The figures indicate that the administration is dealing with different categories of discrepancies, ranging from inconsistencies in personal details to gaps in the mapping of records from the previous revision.
Constituency-wise breakup of ineligible voters
Puttur has recorded the highest number of voters identified as ineligible, with 195 cases, followed by Mangaluru City South with 194.
Belthangady recorded 179 cases, while Bantwal reported 157. Mangaluru accounted for 144 voters, and Sullia recorded 142.
Mangaluru City North reported 126 cases, while Moodbidri had the lowest number among the eight constituencies, with 80 voters identified as ineligible.
The constituency-wise figures are as follows:
| Assembly constituency | Ineligible voters |
|---|---|
| Puttur | 195 |
| Mangaluru City South | 194 |
| Belthangady | 179 |
| Bantwal | 157 |
| Mangaluru | 144 |
| Sullia | 142 |
| Mangaluru City North | 126 |
| Moodbidri | 80 |
| Total | 1,217 |
Puttur and Mangaluru City South together account for 389 of the 1,217 cases identified across the district.
The figures provide a constituency-level picture of the cases flagged during the ongoing revision exercise. However, the final status of individual entries will depend on the verification process and the resolution of the discrepancies identified by electoral officials.
Excluded voters can apply through Form 6
Officials have stated that voters whose discrepancies remain unresolved during the hearings will have their names removed from the final electoral roll.
However, those excluded will have the option of applying for fresh enrolment by submitting Form 6 along with the relevant supporting documents.
According to an official, applications must be submitted to the concerned ERO or AERO in person. Voters may also send their applications by post or hand them over to the booth-level officer (BLO) responsible for their polling area.
Applicants are required to provide copies of the relevant documents to support their claims for enrolment. The concerned authorities will examine the applications in accordance with the applicable procedures.
The Form 6 option provides a route for eligible individuals to seek enrolment if their names are excluded during the revision process. Affected voters should, however, ensure that they follow the prescribed procedure and submit the required documentation.
Voters urged to complete formalities before deadline
With October 22 set as the deadline for completing the hearings, the district administration is working to finish the verification exercise on time.
The delivery of all 1,50,131 notices and the completion of 1,49,493 hearings indicate substantial progress in processing the cases identified during the revision.
The additional deployment of 148 AEROs is intended to help officials address pending cases and complete the exercise within the stipulated period.
Voters who have received notices have been advised to attend their hearings and provide the necessary documents to establish their eligibility. Those who fail to resolve the discrepancies may face exclusion from the final electoral roll, subject to the applicable procedures.
The ongoing SIR exercise is aimed at reviewing electoral records and resolving discrepancies before the final list is prepared. For affected voters in Dakshina Kannada, timely participation in the hearings and completion of the required formalities will be important in ensuring that their eligibility is properly considered.