Mysuru: The identities of nearly 1.3 lakh voters classified under the ‘anomalies’ and ‘no mapping’ categories in Mysuru will be verified by designated Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The verification process comes after the publication of the draft electoral roll and could further reduce the number of voters if those flagged are unable to authenticate their identities with the documents prescribed by the Election Commission.
Over 1.12 lakh voters marked as anomalies
According to the draft electoral roll, 1,12,270 voters have been classified under the anomalies category. These discrepancies primarily relate to spelling differences in names and variations in age details in electoral records.
Another 15,854 voters have been placed under the no-mapping category because their records could not be mapped with those of their parents or grandparents.
Together, the two categories account for 1,28,124 voters whose records require further verification.
The exercise is part of the process of rectifying electoral records following the SIR. Voters will have to provide supporting documents specified by the Election Commission to establish their identity and correct discrepancies in their records.
Notices to be served at voters’ homes
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been tasked with serving notices to voters whose records have been flagged.
The notices are expected to be delivered directly to the voters’ registered addresses. BLOs have also been instructed to photograph voters while handing over the notices.
If a voter is not available at the registered address, BLOs are required to make up to three visits to ensure that the notice is served.
Officials have also reportedly been instructed to contact voters by telephone in advance and inform them about the documents they may need to keep ready for the verification process.
After receiving a notice, voters will be required to meet the designated AERO at the specified time and place to rectify their electoral records.
5.6 lakh voters already removed from draft list
The latest verification comes after around 5.6 lakh voters in Mysuru were removed from the draft electoral list under the ASDDO category.
With another 1.3 lakh records now facing verification under the anomalies and no mapping categories, the electoral roll could undergo further changes depending on the outcome of the exercise.
The responsibility will largely rest with voters to establish their identity and provide the required supporting documents within the stipulated period.
The Election Commission has provided two months for rectification of electoral rolls.
Constituency-wise figures
The draft list shows considerable variation in the number of flagged voters across Mysuru district’s Assembly constituencies.
Chamundeshwari has 20,463 voters classified under anomalies and another 1,786 under no mapping.
Narasimharaja has 21,125 anomalies and 560 no-mapping cases, while Chamaraja has 18,114 anomalies and 565 no-mapping cases.
Krishnaraja has 7,595 anomalies and 594 no-mapping cases.
Other constituencies have also recorded significant numbers. Varuna has 10,056 anomaly cases and 1,009 no-mapping cases, while T Narasipura has 6,168 and 3,633 respectively.
| Assembly constituency | Anomalies | No mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Periyapatna | 7,171 | 1,875 |
| Krishnarajanagar | 4,313 | 2,151 |
| Hunsur | 5,143 | 2,978 |
| HD Kote | 5,972 | 347 |
| Nanjangud | 6,150 | 356 |
| Chamundeshwari | 20,463 | 1,786 |
| Krishnaraja | 7,595 | 594 |
| Chamaraja | 18,114 | 565 |
| Narasimharaja | 21,125 | 560 |
| Varuna | 10,056 | 1,009 |
| T Narasipura | 6,168 | 3,633 |
| Total | 1,12,270 | 15,854 |
Congress raises concern over notices
Mysuru District Congress Committee vice-president Showkath Pasha, who is overseeing the SIR process in Mysuru city for the Congress, raised concerns about the serving of notices.
He claimed that even five days after the SIR exercise and the online publication of the draft list, notices had not been served to the nearly 1.3 lakh voters classified under the two categories.
He also cited constituency-wise figures to highlight the scale of the verification exercise.
However, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Lakshmikanth Reddy said notices had started being served on Friday. He confirmed that officials had been instructed to photograph voters when handing over the notices.
Video recording claim to be verified
There has also been a claim that the process of correcting electoral records before the AERO would be video-recorded to ensure transparency.
According to the information available, designated officers or AEROs would record the correction process.
The Deputy Commissioner, however, said he would need to verify the information regarding video recording.
The administration has stressed the importance of completing the verification and rectification process within the prescribed period.
For voters who receive notices, officials have advised them to carefully check the discrepancies mentioned and submit the necessary documents within the stipulated timeframe.
The ongoing exercise is expected to play a significant role in determining the final electoral roll for Mysuru, particularly as thousands of records remain subject to verification.