Bengaluru: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, seeking additional time and other measures for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka.
The Chief Minister has raised concerns over the large number of voters flagged during the revision process. According to the state government, more than 1.08 crore electors have been marked under ASDDO, while around 43 lakh voters have received notices over logical discrepancies.
Four key demands before Election Commission
Shivakumar has urged the Election Commission to extend the period for filing claims and objections so that genuine voters left out of the draft electoral roll get sufficient time to seek inclusion.
He has also requested the Chief Electoral Officer to fully implement the prescribed procedure, including holding Gram Sabha meetings in rural areas and Ward Committee meetings in urban areas, along with adequate public awareness campaigns.
For voters who have received notices over logical discrepancies or lack of linkage to the 2002 electoral roll, the Chief Minister has sought an extended response period of at least three to four weeks to submit documents and clarifications.
The government has also urged the Election Commission to increase the number of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and, if required, District Election Officers (DEOs), considering the large volume of claims, objections and applications.
The Karnataka government said it is ready to provide administrative and logistical support, including mobilising officials for Gram Sabha and Ward Committee meetings and conducting widespread public outreach to ensure the SIR process is completed effectively.