Bengaluru survey reveals 61% unaware of electoral roll revision SIR, 34% lack required documents

A three-day awareness campaign in Bengaluru has uncovered significant gaps in voter awareness regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to a survey conducted as part of the 'My Vote, My Right' campaign, 61.3% of respondents had never heard of SIR, while 34% possessed only an Aadhaar card and none of the 11 prescribed documents required under the process.

The campaign, which concluded on Friday, covered areas with high migrant populations, shops, and street vendors, including Jayanagar, Malleshwaram, Tilaknagar, Virat Nagar, and Madiwala market. The 'SIR Janajagruthi Jaatha' (awareness rally) involved interactions with 138 respondents, whose responses highlighted the risk of eligible voters being excluded if the SIR is implemented without adequate support.

During field interactions, some respondents alleged that Booth Level Officers were not properly mapping voters and, in some cases, were demanding bribes. Among those who were aware of SIR, many did not know that ration cards are not among the 11 accepted documents and that Aadhaar alone is insufficient for verification under the process.

The survey also found that 91.2% of respondents had Aadhaar cards, but most were unaware that it cannot be used as a standalone document. Of those aware of SIR, 61.8% said they did not know whether they had been mapped by election officials. Additionally, 65% of respondents said they did not know how to locate their names in the 2002 electoral roll, with only 18.2% able to do so, primarily through the Election Commission website or with assistance.

The organisers identified three major concerns: low awareness of SIR, heavy reliance on Aadhaar without other supporting documents, and limited understanding of how to access the 2002 voter list. They have requested the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka to hold a public meeting on SIR, provide assurances that no eligible voter will be excluded, and make the software source code used in the process public before implementation. They have also urged the Chief Minister to direct local administrations to assist voters in obtaining required documents and to communicate concerns to the Chief Electoral Officer based on experiences in other states.