Udupi: The SIR Opposition Forum has strongly opposed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken by the Election Commission, alleging that the process violates constitutional principles by requiring voters to produce documents to prove their citizenship.
The forum announced a statewide awareness campaign to educate citizens about the issue and raise concerns over what it described as potential threats to voting rights, particularly among vulnerable sections of society.
Forum raises concerns over citizenship documents
Speaking after releasing a poster for the awareness campaign at the Udupi Press Club on Friday, SIR Opposition Forum Udupi convenor Sridhar criticised the voter roll revision exercise and questioned the requirement for additional documentation from voters.
He said the right to vote is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy and expressed concern that eligible voters could be excluded from electoral rolls if they are unable to produce the documents sought during the revision process.
According to Sridhar, placing the burden of proving citizenship on voters goes beyond the constitutional mandate of the Election Commission and could adversely affect large sections of the population.
“The voter list revision process must be transparent. However, asking voters to prove their citizenship is unconstitutional. The Election Commission should function within the limits of its constitutional authority,” he said.
Concerns over impact on vulnerable communities
The forum alleged that the ongoing revision process could disproportionately affect economically weaker sections, rural residents, migrant workers and marginalised communities who may face difficulties in producing the required documents.
Sridhar argued that any process that risks excluding genuine voters from electoral rolls could undermine democratic values and weaken public confidence in the electoral system.
He further claimed that measures linked to voter roll revision could deprive eligible citizens of their voting rights if adequate safeguards are not put in place.
The forum also expressed concern over what it described as insufficient support mechanisms for poor and vulnerable sections seeking to obtain or update documentation.
Call for withdrawal of controversial measure
Demanding immediate withdrawal of the disputed provisions under the SIR process, Sridhar urged authorities to ensure that no eligible voter is denied the right to participate in elections.
He called on the government to introduce special measures to assist poor people, refugees and other vulnerable groups in obtaining the documents required under the revision process.
“No citizen should lose their voting rights due to lack of documentation,” he said, stressing the need for an inclusive and accessible electoral system.
The forum maintained that voter verification should not become a barrier preventing legitimate voters from exercising their democratic rights.
Statewide awareness campaign launched
Providing details of the campaign, Sahabaalwe Organisation representative Phaniraj said awareness programmes would be conducted across Karnataka from June 13 to 18 through five separate routes covering multiple districts.
The campaign aims to educate voters about the SIR process and mobilise public opinion regarding the concerns raised by the forum.
Route 1
The first route will cover Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Ballari, Vijayanagara and Koppal districts.
Route 2
The second route includes Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri districts.
Route 3
The third route will pass through Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Shivamogga, Davanagere and Chitradurga districts.
Route 4
The fourth route comprises Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bengaluru Rural and Ramanagara districts.
Route 5
The fifth route will cover Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts, where awareness programmes will be organised among voters.
Forum members attend press conference
Several members of the SIR Opposition Forum attended the press conference, including Prashanth Jathanna, Sridhar Billava, Sundar Master, Shyamraj Birthi, Ismail Cherkady and Idris Hoode.
The forum said it would continue engaging with the public and relevant authorities on issues related to voter rights and electoral processes during the course of the awareness campaign.
Conclusion
The SIR Opposition Forum has intensified its opposition to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, arguing that documentation requirements could affect the voting rights of vulnerable citizens. Through its statewide campaign, the organisation aims to generate awareness and seek safeguards to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the democratic process.