Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has expressed concern on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and said that the process could cause the names of genuine voters to be deleted.
Shivakumar said the exercise concerns citizens’ right to vote and called for more scrutiny of the process.
Shivakumar said a section of BJP leaders was trying to use the SIR process to target voters through Form 7. Form 7 applications were being submitted in bulk and those belonging to minorities, backward-class, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities could be particularly affected.
Shivakumar said, “The whole country is shaking over this SIR issue,” claiming that more than 50 lakh voters had already disappeared from the electoral lists. He also urged affected voters to file objections and verify their names during the claims and objections process.
The Election Commission's SIR exercise in Karnataka has involved extensive verification of electoral records. Election Commission’s voter services portal allows voters to search their names in the electoral roll, submit documents against notices and track applications connected with the SIR process.
The process has also raised questions about voter deletions and Form 7 applications.
The draft electoral roll released during the SIR process revealed 67,307 Form 7 applications for deletion between June 16 and August 23, while subsequent data from the Chief Electoral Officer’s office indicated 61,130 Form 7 applications received and processed. The difference of around 6,000 cases was flagged for verification.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "It is very unfortunate to speak to you about the right to vote and the right to live. The entire country is shaking over this SIR issue. A big gang, some BJP leaders, is trying to delete your names through this SIR… pic.twitter.com/bMUxAxOZmc
— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2026
Other reports indicate a large number of voters were flagged during the revision due to absent, shifted, deceased or duplicate entries. Shivakumar has previously sought more time for voters to respond to notices and raise claims or objections.
The SIR process has also been a topic of concern for voters as far as notices and hearings are concerned. In a September report, some citizens who appeared before officials during hearings reported they did not receive acknowledgment after submitting documents.
Shivakumar said he had sought information from police authorities, deputy commissioners and the state election authorities to investigate how these voter-related applications were being handled, as political parties and government officials continue to debate the implementation and verification of the electoral roll revision.
The Election Commission has provided voters with the means to check their names, submit documents against notices and access electoral roll-related services.
With the SIR exercise still on, voters who receive notices or find discrepancies in their records can use the official voter service available through the Election Commission.
Shivakumar's allegations about targeted voter deletions are his claims and are being verified by the election authorities.
