Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, disclosed that 84,31,612 voters across the state have been identified under the ASDDO (absent, shifted, deceased, duplicate, and others) category during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Of the 5,54,32,314 Enumeration Forms distributed statewide, 4,26,75,861 — or 76.99 per cent — have been digitised so far, while 43,24,847 forms remain unsubmitted ahead of the 8 August 2026 deadline.

ASDDO Breakdown: Who Was Flagged and Why

Of the 84.31 lakh voters identified under ASDDO, the largest segment — 51,74,968 — had permanently shifted from their registered addresses. A further 14,99,799 were found to be deceased, while 11,61,231 were untraceable during field verification. Duplicate registrations accounted for 5,62,572 entries, and 33,042 were classified under miscellaneous categories.

Anbukumar clarified that a voter marked as 'absent or shifted' does not automatically lose registration rights. 'They may have relocated or could not be found during verification. If such voters have not applied for voter registration anywhere else in the country, they can submit their details online or through Form 6,' he said.

Bengaluru's Outsized ASDDO Share

The situation is particularly acute in Bengaluru, where the Bruhat Bengaluru Authority (BBA) limits record 1,03,88,363 registered voters — of whom 39,38,202, or roughly 38 per cent, have been flagged under the ASDDO category. An additional 16,57,582 forms within the city remain to be digitised.

Officials have been directed to share ward-level ASDDO data with political parties in areas where the concentration of flagged voters is significantly high, according to the Chief Electoral Officer.

Deadline and What Voters Must Do

8 August 2026 is the last date for submitting Enumeration Forms. Anbukumar urged citizens not to retain the forms, warning that names will be included in the draft electoral roll only after forms are handed over to Booth Level Officers (BLOs). If a voter is unavailable at home, a family member may sign and submit the form on their behalf.

He also addressed concerns about older records, urging people not to withhold forms citing the absence of documents dating back to 2002. Citizens who will turn 18 by 1 October 2026 must separately apply for inclusion via Form 6.

Process and Oversight

BLOs are required to conduct spot inspections and upload supporting documents — including death certificates wherever applicable — before marking a voter under any ASDDO sub-category. This verification-first approach is intended to prevent wrongful deletions from the rolls, a concern that has shadowed SIR exercises in other states in recent months.

With the submission deadline under three weeks away, election officials face the twin challenge of closing the digitisation gap and recovering the 43 lakh-plus outstanding forms — a task that will determine the credibility of Karnataka's revised electoral roll.