Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday requesting an extension for electoral roll revisions [1].
The request comes amid concerns that a significant portion of the electorate could be wrongly removed from voting lists during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. If these voters are not given sufficient time to file claims or objections, they may be unable to participate in future elections.
Shivakumar expressed concern regarding the number of citizens currently categorized in the Absent, Shifted, Deleted, Duplicate, and Other (ASDDO) list. According to official figures, approximately 1.08 crore people have been placed in this category [2].
The Chief Minister said the current timeframe for the SIR may be insufficient for such a large volume of citizens to verify their status. He urged the Chief Election Commissioner to extend the period for claims and objections to ensure the electoral rolls are accurate, and inclusive [1].
The ASDDO list serves as a preliminary filter to identify voters who may no longer reside in their registered constituency or whose entries are redundant. However, the process of moving a name to this list can lead to disenfranchisement if the voter does not successfully contest the move during the designated window [2].
Bengaluru officials are now awaiting a response from the Election Commission of India regarding the request for more time. The state government maintains that the integrity of the democratic process depends on the comprehensive inclusion of all eligible voters [1].
“1.08 crore people have been placed in the ASDDO list”
The scale of the ASDDO list indicates a massive administrative undertaking in Karnataka's voter verification. Because the 'Absent, Shifted, Deleted, Duplicate, and Other' category acts as a gateway to removal, a failure to extend the objection period could lead to widespread voter suppression, potentially altering the outcome of future regional contests by disenfranchising millions of eligible citizens.
