Bengaluru: Nearly one crore names have disappeared from Karnataka’s voter list. The final electoral roll published on Tuesday, October 27, puts the state’s electorate at 4,55,00,011, down from 5,54,32,314 before the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, began. That is a fall of 99.32 lakh names, or just under 18 per cent, in a single revision exercise.
For voters, the question now is practical: is my name still there, and if it is not, what do I do next?
From 5.54 crore to 4.55 crore
Between June 30 and August 17, as many as 60,923 Booth Level Officers visited homes and generated enumeration forms for 5.54 crore electors whose names were on the rolls as on June 16. About 80.52 per cent submitted their forms. The remaining 19.48 per cent, around 1.08 crore people, did not, and they were left out of the draft roll.
The draft roll, published on August 24, listed 4,46,35,975 general electors. The final roll added about 8.64 lakh electors during the claims and objections stage, but it is still 99.32 lakh smaller than before the SIR started.
Why were so many names removed?
Most deletions were administrative, not punitive. The largest category by far was people who had moved or could not be traced.
- Permanently shifted or untraceable: 80.62 lakh names at the draft stage.
- Deceased: 16.39 lakh entries recorded as dead.
- Duplicate entries: more than 7 lakh names.
- Others: 3.83 lakh names under the remaining category.
After the claims and objections period, which ran until September 23, about 62,000 people were found ineligible after notices and hearings. The office received nearly 19.5 lakh applications for inclusion, deletion and correction.
People removed for shifting or not being traced had to file Form 6 to seek inclusion. The authorities received 7,87,534 such applications, including new registrations. Late applications are expected to figure in supplementary rolls.
Women outnumber men in the final roll
The final roll lists 2,25,40,493 male voters, 2,29,12,355 female voters and 2,841 third-gender electors. Women outnumber men by about 3.72 lakh. There are 6,83,364 electors aged 18 to 19 and 3,92,134 aged 85 and above.
Bengaluru Urban fell from about 1.03 crore to 59.6 lakh, a drop of more than 40 per cent, according to Election Commission data reported by The Indian Express.
What the Election Commission and the government said
Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar said the revision was carried out in a transparent manner and as per the law. He rejected reports that officials had generated around 60,000 Form 7 applications in bulk to delete voters, saying there was no provision for bulk generation of Form 7. Every such form, he said, must follow a prescribed inquiry and a speaking order by the competent officer.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said his government would take all necessary measures to safeguard voters in the state. “It is the duty of the Karnataka government and the party to protect voters,” he told reporters in Bengaluru. The Congress has repeatedly opposed the SIR exercise, and the row over deletions has already reached the courts.
The court case alongside the roll
On October 27, the Supreme Court gave petitioners 10 days to reply to the Election Commission’s affidavit defending the SIR. The Commission maintains that the exercise was authorised by law and that its orders were approved unanimously by all three members of the poll body. The court also issued notices on a fresh plea alleging changes to Form 6 during the Bihar SIR, a claim the Commission disputes. The court has said all issues will be examined.
Anyone aggrieved by such a decision may appeal to the District Magistrate, with a second appeal to the Chief Electoral Officer.
How to check your name
Check the constituency-wise roll on the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s website or the Election Commission portal, using your name, EPIC number or address. If your name is missing and you are eligible, file Form 6 and keep the acknowledgement. If you moved, check both your new and old constituencies. With 99.32 lakh names removed, every Karnataka voter should check the list this week.
FAQs
How many voters were deleted?
As many as 99.32 lakh names. The final roll lists 4,55,00,011 electors, down from 5,54,32,314.
When was the final roll published?
On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after a draft roll on August 24.
Why were most names deleted?
Most had shifted or could not be traced (80.62 lakh), followed by deceased entries (16.39 lakh) and duplicates (over 7 lakh).
How can I check my name?
Check the final roll on the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s website or the Election Commission portal, and file Form 6 if it is missing.
What if my name was wrongly deleted?
Seek inclusion through Form 6, and appeal to the District Magistrate if needed.
For ordinary voters, the next step is simple: check the list, and act quickly if something is wrong.
