SIR deadline extended, voters roll reduced

Metro India News | karimnagar

The Election Commission has extended the deadline for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation limits, giving voters additional time to complete the enumeration process. The last date for submitting enumeration forms has been extended to August 3, while the draft electoral roll will be published on August 10. Objections and claims can be filed from August 10 to September 9.

Despite the extension, officials expect a significant reduction in the number of registered voters following the revision exercise. Of the municipality's 3,40,580 registered voters—including 1,69,679 men, 1,70,858 women, and 43 others—official estimates suggest that 60,000 to 70,000 names, or nearly 20 percent of the electorate, could be removed after verification. The revision exercise is primarily aimed at identifying and deleting duplicate, bogus, and ineligible voter registrations, including multiple entries under the same address.

As part of the verification process, officials are removing duplicate entries where a voter is registered in more than one constituency or location after due verification. Names of deceased voters and those who have permanently migrated to other places are also being deleted from the rolls. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are conducting door-to-door visits to collect voter details through enumeration forms. Municipal Commissioner Prafull Desai has personally inspected the revision exercise in divisions including Jyothinagar, Mankammathota and Rekurthi, directing officials to ensure a transparent and error-free electoral roll.

However, the survey has faced operational challenges. Officials have reported technical glitches and network issues during online data entry, while differences in the spelling of names on voter ID cards and Aadhaar cards have delayed the uploading process. Many voters are also unfamiliar with the procedure for filling out enumeration forms, resulting in delays in submitting the documents to BLOs.