Karnataka has received 1,10,654 Form-7 applications seeking objections to the proposed inclusion or deletion of names from the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision, prompting the Chief Electoral Officer’s office to direct election officials to act against knowingly false or bulk applications.
The state had 4,51,61,393 registered electors as of October 9, comprising 2,24,03,422 men, 2,27,55,113 women and 2,858 transgender voters, Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar said, according to the CEO’s office.
The revision process has generated 43,82,315 notices. Of these, 43,73,745 notices had been delivered, representing a delivery rate of 99.80 per cent. Hearings had been completed in 40,88,099 cases, or 93.47 per cent of the delivered notices, while 2,85,646 hearings remained pending.
The final hearing is scheduled for October 12. The last date for the notice phase and disposal of claims and objections is October 22, while the final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 27 under the Election Commission of India’s SIR-2026 schedule.
Between June 16 and October 8, Karnataka received 23,02,215 applications across four categories. These included 9,52,497 Form-6 applications for inclusion of names, including eligible first-time voters; 4,712 Form-6A applications from Indian citizens living abroad; 1,10,654 Form-7 applications seeking objections or deletion; and 12,34,352 Form-8 applications for corrections, address changes and replacement of Elector Photo Identity Cards.
The CEO’s office said constituency-wise details of claims and objections submitted through Forms 9, 10, 11, 11A and 11B had been published on the Election Commission’s website for public information. The publication of these details gives voters and political stakeholders access to constituency-level information during the revision process.
The office has also issued directions to District Election Officers, Additional District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers regarding applications found to contain false claims or objections. The direction follows a letter sent by Anbukkumar to district election officials on October 1 after the office received reports of bulk Form-7 applications that were allegedly not genuine.
The letter directed Electoral Registration Officers to act under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, against applicants who knowingly make a false statement or declaration in Forms 6, 6A, 7 or 8. Such action must be preceded by an inquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
The immediate administrative task is to complete the remaining hearings and dispose of claims and objections before October 22. Karnataka’s final electoral roll is scheduled to be published five days later, on October 27.
