As of July 13, the Election Commission has flagged over 9.37 lakh electors as absent, shifted, deceased, duplicate or otherwise untraceable. Recognised political parties have now been tasked with verifying these entries to ensure the electoral roll’s accuracy.

Key Takeaways

  • 9.37 lakh electors classified as absent, shifted, dead or duplicate.
  • Congress, BJP and JD(S) receive weekly ASDDO lists for verification.
  • Accurate verification will clean the rolls while protecting eligible voters.

Karnataka’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls has entered its final distribution phase. The Election Commission has processed 94.23% of the state’s 55.4 million voters, identifying more than 9.37 lakh names under the “absent, shifted, dead, duplicate or otherwise untraceable” (ASDDO) category.

Shifting Verification Burden to Parties

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are now sharing the ASDDO lists with recognised political parties—including the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular)—on a weekly basis. Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar emphasized that parties are authorised to scrutinise the data gathered by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and report any discrepancies or omissions to the commission.

Booth‑Level Agents Take the Lead

Each party has activated its Booth Level Agents (BLAs), local leaders and grassroots workers to physically verify the names on the ASDDO lists. These agents are instructed to visit polling‑station neighbourhoods, engage with residents and confirm whether individuals marked as deceased, permanently shifted, absent or otherwise untraceable have indeed been correctly categorised.

Party‑Level Monitoring

KPCC spokesperson V.R. Sudarshan said the party has mobilised its booth‑level network to closely monitor the SIR exercise, urging BLAs to flag any anomalies to election authorities. BJP SIR coordinator S. Dattatri reported that, so far, no major discrepancies have emerged in the ASDDO data, though the party will continue its vigilance until the exercise concludes.

Implications for Future Elections

The overarching aim of the SIR drive is to purge duplicate, deceased, permanently shifted and other ineligible entries while safeguarding every eligible voter’s enrolment. Any proposed deletions will follow due legal process, including field verification and an opportunity for affected electors to respond. Successful verification will enhance the credibility and transparency of Karnataka’s forthcoming polls, setting a precedent for other states.