Karnataka SIR: 2.01 crore Enumeration Forms distributed, CEO tightens BLO norms
Synopsis
Karnataka has distributed over 2.01 crore Enumeration Forms — barely a third of its electorate — with three weeks still to go, while the CEO has been forced to crack down on BLOs bypassing door-to-door rules. The exercise is now politically charged, with BJP leaders alleging misuse and illegal document issuance, adding accountability pressure to an already complex voter-roll revision.
Key Takeaways
2,01,24,411 Enumeration Forms distributed in Karnataka as of 3 July 2026 , covering 36.30% of the state's 5.54 crore electorate.
12,07,432 forms ( 2.18% ) have been digitised; 54,823 voters submitted forms online.
17,688 electors flagged under the ASDDO category, including 8,853 deceased and 6,828 permanently shifted .
Anbu Kumar directed all Deputy Commissioners on 3 July 2026 to enforce mandatory house-to-house visits after complaints of non-compliance.
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and BJP President B.Y.
Vijayendra raised political objections, alleging misuse and procedural violations in the SIR exercise.
The enumeration drive runs from 30 June to 29 July 2026 .
Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office on Friday, 3 July 2026, reported that 2,01,24,411 Enumeration Forms (EFs) — covering 36.30 per cent of the state's electorate — have been distributed under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The office simultaneously issued strict directions to all Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to conduct mandatory door-to-door distribution in line with Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, after complaints surfaced that some officers were bypassing the prescribed process.
Progress on the Ground
Of the 2.01 crore forms distributed so far, 12,07,432 — approximately 2.18 per cent — have already been digitised. A further 54,823 voters, or 0.10 per cent of the electorate, have submitted their forms through the online channel.
The verification exercise has also flagged 17,688 electors (0.03 per cent) under the 'ASDDO' category — covering absent, shifted, dead, and duplicate entries. Within this group, officials have identified 264 untraceable or absent electors, 6,828 permanently shifted electors, 8,853 deceased electors, 1,636 voters already enrolled elsewhere, and 107 cases in other categories. Karnataka's total electoral roll, as of 16 June 2026, stood at 5,54,32,314 electors.
CEO Cracks Down on Non-Compliance
The CEO's office acknowledged receiving complaints that certain BLOs were distributing Enumeration Forms from offices rather than conducting house-to-house visits. In response, Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar issued a formal government communication on 3 July 2026, directing all Deputy Commissioners across Karnataka to ensure strict compliance with ECI norms. Voters who face difficulty filling out the forms have been directed to designated Voter Facilitation Centres. Awareness campaigns are also underway to inform electors of available support.
The house-to-house enumeration and digitisation drive commenced on 30 June 2026 and is scheduled to continue until 29 July 2026.
Political Controversy Clouds the Exercise
The SIR has drawn sharp political reactions. Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje on Friday alleged that illegal birth certificates were being issued through cyber centres in Karnataka following the commencement of the SIR, and urged the ECI to intervene. She also wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner seeking urgent action against what she described as a 'parallel' SIR allegedly initiated by the Karnataka State Election Commission (KSEC) in assembly constituencies under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which she claimed amounted to a dilution of the official exercise.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra separately alleged that the Karnataka government was misusing the SIR process and claimed, without providing evidence, that enumeration forms were being distributed from mosques rather than through the ECI's prescribed door-to-door method. These allegations have not been independently verified.
What Comes Next
With the enumeration window open until 29 July, the CEO's office faces the dual challenge of accelerating form distribution — currently at just over a third of the electorate — while managing political scrutiny and ensuring procedural integrity. The ECI's response to the political complaints, and whether an independent inquiry is ordered, will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
The pace needs to accelerate sharply, and non-compliant officers create both legal exposure and political ammunition. The BJP's allegations of mosque-based distribution and illegal birth certificates, while unverified, reflect a broader pattern of electoral-roll exercises becoming flashpoints in Karnataka's charged political environment. The ECI's handling of these complaints — and whether it orders an independent audit — will determine whether the SIR retains credibility as a neutral, administrative exercise.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a structured exercise to update Karnataka's voter rolls through door-to-door distribution of Enumeration Forms by Booth Level Officers. It began on 30 June 2026 and runs until 29 July 2026, covering the state's 5.54 crore registered electors.
How many Enumeration Forms have been distributed in Karnataka so far?
As of 3 July 2026, a total of 2,01,24,411 Enumeration Forms have been distributed, accounting for 36.30 per cent of Karnataka's electorate. Of these, 12,07,432 forms have been digitised and 54,823 voters have submitted their forms online.
Why did the Karnataka CEO issue fresh compliance directions to BLOs?
The Chief Electoral Officer's office received complaints that some Booth Level Officers were distributing Enumeration Forms from offices rather than conducting mandatory house-to-house visits. CEO V. Anbu Kumar responded with a formal directive on 3 July 2026 to all Deputy Commissioners to enforce ECI guidelines strictly.
What political allegations have been raised against the Karnataka SIR exercise?
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje alleged that illegal birth certificates were being issued through cyber centres after the SIR began, and also flagged a 'parallel' revision exercise by the Karnataka State Election Commission in Greater Bengaluru Authority constituencies. BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra separately alleged that forms were being distributed from mosques — a claim that has not been independently verified.
What happens if voters need help filling out the Enumeration Form?
Voters who face difficulty completing the Enumeration Form can visit designated Voter Facilitation Centres set up across Karnataka. The CEO's office has also launched awareness campaigns to inform electors about available assistance during the revision process.
