Karnataka has begun a large-scale Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the Election Commission initiating a statewide house-to-house verification campaign from Tuesday. The revision exercise, which will continue until July 29, is expected to cover more than 5.5 crore electors across the state.
Amid the rollout of the voter verification process, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged residents to ensure that their names remain on the electoral rolls. Stressing the importance of voting rights, he warned that people who lose their voter eligibility may also face difficulties in accessing government welfare benefits.
Election Commission Begins Statewide SIR Exercise
The Election Commission has started the Special Intensive Revision process across Karnataka as part of efforts to update and verify voter records. The drive includes a door-to-door enumeration exercise that will be carried out throughout the state until July 29.
Election officials will visit households to verify voter details and update electoral records wherever necessary. Authorities are aiming to ensure that the voter database remains accurate and updated before future elections.
The revision exercise is one of the largest voter verification operations conducted in Karnataka in recent years due to the scale of deployment and the number of electors involved.
DK Shivakumar Issues Warning on Voting Rights
Speaking about the importance of voter registration, DK Shivakumar urged citizens not to ignore the ongoing revision process. He said the right to vote is closely linked to citizens’ participation in public life and government systems.
“The right to vote is the right to live,” he said while addressing the issue during the launch of the revision process.
The Karnataka leader also referred to actions reportedly being taken in other states regarding beneficiary verification. According to him, the loss of voter eligibility could eventually affect access to welfare schemes.
“In West Bengal, an order has been issued to verify and delete all ineligible ration beneficiaries based on SIR. Similar measures are being taken by other states. If you lose the right to vote, you’ll lose government benefits,” he added.
His remarks came as the state government and election authorities intensified public awareness efforts surrounding the electoral roll verification campaign.
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Karnataka Government Announces Permanent Residential Certificates
To help residents complete the SIR process more smoothly, the Karnataka government has announced a major administrative step related to residential proof documentation.
The state government said it will issue permanent residential certificates to citizens. These certificates are expected to assist people in establishing proof of residence during the electoral roll verification process.
The Revenue Department has already issued comprehensive guidelines related to the issuance of these certificates. Officials clarified that the document would serve as valid proof of residence for applicants.
Citizens will have the option to apply for the certificates both online and offline.
Online and Offline Application Process Explained
According to the state government, people can apply digitally through the Seva Sindhu portal. The online platform has been made available to simplify the process for residents seeking residential documentation.
Apart from online services, the government has also enabled offline application facilities through several existing citizen service centres across Karnataka.
These include:
- Atal Jana Snehi Kendras or Nadakacheris
- Bengaluru One centres
- Karnataka One centres
- Grama One centres
Officials said the multiple access points are intended to make the application process easier for citizens living in both urban and rural areas.
The move is being viewed as an important support measure because proof of residence is expected to play a key role during the verification and revision of electoral rolls.
More Than 5.5 Crore Electors to Be Covered
Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anbukumar provided details about the scale of the operation while speaking to NDTV.
According to Anbukumar, the Special Intensive Revision process will cover over 5.5 crore electors across Karnataka. The exercise is aimed at ensuring that voter lists remain updated and that eligible voters are properly included in the rolls.
The statewide verification campaign is expected to involve extensive field-level coordination over the coming weeks.
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Thousands of Election Personnel Deployed Across Karnataka
To conduct the revision process efficiently, the Election Commission has deployed a large workforce across Karnataka.
Officials stated that 59,050 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been trained and assigned to carry out the field verification work. These officers will play a central role in visiting households and checking voter information during the enumeration exercise.
In addition to the BLOs, the Commission has also deployed 7,556 BLO Supervisors to oversee the process.
The election administration structure for the drive further includes:
- 224 Electoral Registration Officers
- 336 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers
Authorities said the deployment has been carefully planned to ensure that the large-scale operation is completed within the scheduled timeline.
Political Parties Also Participate Through Booth Level Agents
Apart from government-appointed election officials, political parties are also participating in the electoral roll revision exercise through Booth Level Agents.
According to the Election Commission, more than 1.1 lakh Booth Level Agents nominated by political parties have received training for the process.
These agents are expected to assist in verifying voter information and ensuring coordination at the local level during the SIR campaign.
The involvement of party-appointed agents is considered an important component of the electoral revision process because it allows political stakeholders to monitor voter roll updates closely.
Focus on Accuracy and Updated Electoral Records
The Special Intensive Revision process is primarily aimed at maintaining accuracy in the electoral database. Through the house-to-house verification exercise, authorities intend to identify eligible voters, verify residential information, and update records where required.
Election officials have encouraged residents to cooperate with Booth Level Officers during the ongoing verification process.
Authorities are also emphasizing the importance of checking voter details and ensuring that names remain correctly listed in the electoral rolls.
The government’s parallel decision to provide permanent residential certificates is expected to help many residents who may require documentation support during the process.
House-to-House Enumeration to Continue Till July 29
The door-to-door enumeration campaign that began on Tuesday will continue across Karnataka until July 29.
During this period, election personnel will conduct field verification across districts and localities as part of the statewide SIR operation.
Officials have indicated that public participation will be essential for the success of the exercise, especially in verifying personal details and residential information.
With more than 5.5 crore electors involved and thousands of officials deployed, the revision drive marks one of the most extensive electoral verification efforts currently underway in the state.
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