Election Commission Sets Timeline for Intensive Voter Roll Revision in Karnataka
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is poised to initiate the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, with the exercise scheduled to commence from April 2026. Karnataka falls within the second group of 23 states and Union territories earmarked for this comprehensive electoral overhaul.
Phased Rollout and Preparatory Measures
This revision follows a phased approach, with Bihar being the first state where the SIR was launched on June 24, 2025. Subsequently, on October 27, 2025, the ECI announced the exercise for an initial group of 12 states. As the revision progresses in those regions, the EC has proactively written to the chief electoral officers of the second group, including Karnataka, urging them to begin preparatory work at the earliest.
In a letter issued on Thursday, the EC emphasized: "Since the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the above states/UTs is expected to start from April 2026, you are requested to complete preparatory work related to SIR at the earliest."
Government Deliberations and Civil Society Opposition
Concurrently, the Karnataka state law department has been authorized to study the SIR and submit its detailed report to the government by February 28, 2026. The cabinet, during its meeting on February 12, 2026, discussed the SIR at length, but law and parliamentary affairs minister H K Patil clarified that no conclusive decision was reached. The law department's findings are anticipated to form the basis for the government's eventual consent or refusal to the ECI's initiative.
Civil society organizations have intensified their opposition to the exercise, with some groups labeling the SIR as "an electoral genocide." As part of a representation by the forum My Vote, My Right, Mavalli Shankar, the state convener of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti–Ambedkarvada, demanded that the ruling Congress party voice its stance against the move. He questioned, "How can the CM (Siddaramaiah) say they refuse to politicise SIR?"
Operational Readiness and Voter Mapping Progress
On the ground, Karnataka's electoral machinery is gearing up for the revision. V Anbukumar, the Karnataka chief electoral officer, stated: "We are ready for the exercise. Preparations include training Booth Level Officers (BLOs), equipping them with kits, and mapping voters — the most important part. Mapping is different from verification, which happens during the SIR. It involves enlisting eligible voters using the 2002 voter list and the 2025 revised list. We check if interstate voters have moved into Karnataka and map them to their last constituency, and also map their children. Over 3.8 crore voters have been covered so far."
Key statistics highlight the scale of the effort:
- Districts: 34
- Total electors in 2025: 5.5 crore
- Total mapped electors (including progeny): 3.8 crore
This preparatory mapping phase is crucial for ensuring accuracy and inclusivity in the voter rolls, setting the stage for the formal verification process under the SIR.
