Demand for Transparency and Halt to ‘Anti-Democratic’ Electoral Revision Process
Bengaluru, April 17 – A coalition of progressive and secular organisations has called on Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the electoral roll, describing a specific revision mechanism known as SIR as an “unconstitutional” and “malicious” process that undermines democracy.
In a memorandum submitted on Friday, a delegation led by L.K. Ateeq, President of the Bengaluru Business Corridor, along with activists J.M. Veerasangayya, Badagalapura Nagendra, K.L. Ashok, Yusuf Kanja, B.T. Lalita Naik, Masood Khadir, Noor Sridhar, Sripad Bhat, Haider Baig, Chamarasamali Patil, Ashok Maridas, Dr. Balasangameshwara, Geeta Menon, and Nagesh Aralakuppe, urged election officials to exercise caution.
“SIR is a revision system that violates Election Commission rules, is carried out in haste, and places ordinary citizens in a difficult position,” the activists said in their representation. “It has resulted in large numbers of women, nomads, tribals, Dalits, minorities, and poor people from all castes losing their voting rights. Denying eligible citizens the right to vote during their lifetime by demanding documentation marks a tragic end for democracy.”
ಮತದಾರರ ಪಟ್ಟಿಯಿಂದ ಅರ್ಹ ಮತದಾರರು ಹೊರಗುಳಿಯದಂತೆ ಎಚ್ಚರವಹಿಸಿ: ಪ್ರಗತಿಪರ, ಜಾತ್ಯತೀತ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ
The coalition highlighted that in states where SIR has been implemented, between 20 lakh and three crore eligible voters have been removed from electoral rolls. They pointed to West Bengal as a case study, alleging that the process there had laid bare significant flaws and underlying conspiracies.
“Conducting elections while 34 lakh grievances remain pending, thereby denying those citizens their voting rights, is a massacre of democracy,” the activists warned. “We will not allow a repeat of this in Karnataka.”
Among their key demands, the coalition called for the complete abolition of the SIR process or, at minimum, a stay until pending court hearings are concluded. If the revision must proceed by order, they insisted that Karnataka—with no immediate elections scheduled—should avoid any rushed implementation.
“What is needed is a deliberate, transparent process,” the memorandum stated. The activists also demanded that electoral rolls be made available in a readable format, and that ‘Voter Assistance Centres’ and a ‘Voter Helpline’ be established in every gram panchayat and ward as soon as the SIR process begins.
Further recommendations included issuing strict directives to relevant government officials to provide residence and caste certificates swiftly and without harassment to eligible citizens lacking proper documentation. The coalition also urged that before finalising any draft roll—as per the Election Commission’s own manual—gram sabhas or ward meetings must be convened, draft lists placed before the public, corrections received openly, and a minimum of six months given for citizens to file appeals.
