Karnataka SIR: 19,365 Notices Pending Verification, Says Chief Electoral Officer; Final Roll Due October 27

Karnataka has almost completed the hearing stage of the Special Intensive Revision of its electoral rolls, with only 19,365 notices still pending verification, according to the state's Chief Electoral Officer. The update, issued in a press release on Friday, October 16, 2026, comes as the final voter list is due to be published on October 27 and as the exercise remains at the centre of a national political debate.

Notices and Hearings

The Chief Electoral Officer said that 43,82,824 notices were generated and delivered across the state. These notices were issued to electors whose names fall under the "no mapping" and "anomalies" categories, which means that their entries could not be matched with earlier records or showed discrepancies that needed to be checked. Hearings have been completed in 43,63,459 cases, which is 99.56 percent of the notices delivered, leaving 19,365 cases pending. Earlier updates had shown a much larger number of pending hearings, indicating that officials have sped up the process in recent weeks.

Size of the Electorate

According to the release, Karnataka has 4,54,03,198 electors. These include 2,28,83,894 women, 2,25,16,444 men and 2,860 voters of the third gender. The fact that women outnumber men on the roll is notable, and the final list will show how many names are added or removed as the revision is completed.

Forms Received

Between June 16 and October 15, the Election Commission's machinery in the state received a total of 24,46,803 forms. These include 10,07,392 applications in Form 6 for inclusion of names, 4,777 in Form 6A for the inclusion of non-resident Indian electors, 1,55,109 in Form 7 for deletion, and 12,79,525 in Form 8 for shifting of residence or corrections. The large number of Form 8 applications suggests a significant movement of voters within or between constituencies.

Concerns About Bulk Deletions

Form 7 has become controversial after allegations of mass deletions through bulk submissions. Form 7 is the application used to object to the inclusion of a name in the roll or to seek its deletion. Following the allegations, the Election Commission clarified the existing restrictions on bulk submissions. The Chief Electoral Officer's office also reiterated that Electoral Registration Officers have been directed to act under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, against applicants who knowingly make false statements or declarations in writing in Forms 6, 6A, 7 or 8. This provision carries penal consequences and is meant to deter misuse of the system.

Important Dates

The schedule issued by the Chief Electoral Officer says that the notice phase and the disposal of claims and objections will end on October 22, and that the final electoral roll will be published on October 27. Voters who have not yet checked their entries are advised to verify their details on the official website or at their local office before the deadline, and those who find errors should apply for corrections without delay.

The Political Backdrop

The SIR has triggered protests and legal challenges across the country, with opposition parties, student groups and youth movements questioning the process and the role of the Chief Election Commissioner. In Karnataka, the Congress-led government has been drawn into the debate, with political leaders trading accusations over the protests. The accuracy of the final roll will therefore be closely scrutinised, since errors or wrongful deletions could have an impact on the upcoming elections.

As the last phase approaches, officials say they are working to dispose of the remaining cases and to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the list.

This report is based on published news coverage and statements by the Chief Electoral Officer's office. Figures are as stated in the official release.