K’taka achieves 71.53 pc enumeration form distribution in SIR exercise amid row

Bengaluru, July 6 (IANS) The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka, on Monday said that 71.53 per cent of Enumeration Forms (EFs) have been distributed to electors as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state's electoral rolls.

The CEO's office said that out of the total eligible electors, 3,96,48,190 Enumeration Forms have been distributed so far, accounting for 71.53 per cent of the electorate.

According to the latest progress report, Karnataka had a total of 5,54,32,314 registered electors in the electoral roll as on June 16, 2026. Enumeration Forms have been printed and supplied to Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are conducting the house-to-house verification exercise.

The house-to-house enumeration and digitisation of Enumeration Forms are being carried out simultaneously from June 30 to July 29, 2026.

A total of 14,194 polling stations, representing 24.04 per cent of all polling stations in the state, have achieved 100 per cent distribution of Enumeration Forms, while another 11,554 polling stations (19.57 per cent) have recorded more than 90 per cent distribution.

On the digitisation front, 33,69,178 Enumeration Forms, or 6.08 per cent of the total electorate, have been digitised so far. Only two polling stations have completed 100 per cent digitisation of Enumeration Forms, while 26 polling stations have crossed the 90 per cent digitisation mark.

The Election Commission has also enabled online submission of Enumeration Forms. According to the progress report, 1,24,734 electors, representing 0.23 per cent of the total electorate, have submitted their forms through the online platform.

The report further categorised electors based on field verification. A total of 73,510 electors have been marked under the ASDDO (absent, shifted, deceased) category. During the verification process, 1,085 electors were found to be untraceable or absent, 35,348 were identified as having permanently shifted their residence, 31,366 were reported to be deceased, and 5,366 were found to have already been enrolled elsewhere.

The Chief Electoral Officer's office also released district-wise reports detailing the status of Enumeration Form distribution and digitisation across Karnataka as the month-long electoral roll revision exercise continues.

It can be noted that Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday accused the Karnataka government and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of attempting to derail the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.

The NDA leaders alleged large-scale violations of the Election Commission of India's guidelines and said they would approach the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi if corrective measures were not initiated.

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday accused the opposition of attempting to deprive poor and minority communities of their voting rights through the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while asserting that his government was only creating awareness among citizens to help them safeguard their franchise.

--IANS

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