Electoral Integrity Probe: Karnataka CEO Targets Statistical Outliers in Voter Lists
State official V. Anbu Kumar ordered a review of constituencies reporting extreme numbers of voters categorised as absent, dead, or relocated. The move follows reports that at least nine Bengaluru regions have over 40% of their electorate under scrutiny.
Data Anomalies Spark Procedural Review
Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V. Anbu Kumar announced on July 29 that election authorities will scrutinize Assembly constituencies exhibiting atypical figures in the "Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, Dead and Others" (ASDDO) category. The decision stems from mounting internal data showing significant clusters of voters flagged for potential removal from the rolls.
In the state capital of Bengaluru, specific regions show remarkably high concentrations of these classifications. As of the afternoon of July 29, the Basavanagudi and Bommanahalli areas topped the list, with over 47% of their voter base marked as ASDDO. The BBMP South zone appears particularly impacted, with five of its seven constituencies reporting figures above the 40% threshold. Notably, no constituency in the city currently reports an ASDDO figure below 30%.
Discrepancies in Verification Protocols
While the CEO maintains that every classification is backed by field evidence or official documents like death certificates, field reports suggest inconsistencies. Election Commission guidelines mandate that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) make three physical visits before marking a voter as absent or shifted. Evidence must include confirmation from neighbors or current residents regarding a voter's relocation.
However, testimonies indicate these protocols are failing in practice. Issues identified include:/p>
- Failure to apply mandatory verification stickers on premises during inspections.
- Electors being categorized as "shifted" despite still residing at their registered addresses.
- Lack of direct communication to individuals flagged for removal.
- Instances where entire families were wrongly classified due to incomplete visits.
Political and Regulatory Response
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee officially challenged the current figures on July 29, submitting a representation that claims over 80 lakh electors are now under the ASDDO umbrella. The party requested a secondary round of physical verification for all individuals facing deletion and called for the publication of detailed, constituency-wise statistics.
Despite the CEO stating his office had not received formal complaints from citizen groups before the recent surge in concern, he emphasized that corrective measures remain available. Voters incorrectly identified as absent or shifted can submit specific forms to rectify their status before the final electoral roll is cleared for publication. V. Anbu Kumar reiterated that mahazars, or official records of evidence, have been conducted for every case reported thus far.
Source: The Hindu — Home
