Data Anomaly: 85 Assembly Seats See Rise in Voter Exclusions Despite Full Digitisation

At least 85 Assembly constituencies in the State have reported an increase in the number of voters marked under the Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, Dead or Others (ASDDO) list, even after the completion of 100% digitisation of enumeration forms. This development has raised questions about how more voters could have been added to the list after the process was declared complete.

The ASDDO list was published on August 4, allowing voters who were wrongly categorised to check their names and request corrections. Following the publication, several voters who found their names on the list approached their respective Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to resolve discrepancies. In many cases, voters argued that they were not removed from the ASDDO list but merely shifted from one category to another. Some voters also reported that BLOs had collected their details but had not updated the changes.

A comparison of data from Friday and Sunday reveals that many districts and constituencies recorded an increase in ASDDO entries. This occurred despite official figures showing that the same constituencies had completed digitisation of all enumeration forms, including those related to ASDDO cases. The trend was observed across multiple districts, including Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Koppal, Raichur, Vijayapura, and Bengaluru Urban.

In Mysuru district, for instance, numbers rose under the 'already enrolled or duplicate' category, with all 11 Assembly constituencies seeing a spike. Eight constituencies also recorded an increase in the number of voters marked as dead. Overall, the number of voters marked as dead increased by at least 98, while the number of duplicate or already enrolled voters rose by 175 between Friday and Sunday.

Similarly, in Chamarajanagar, all four Assembly constituencies recorded an increase in both the 'dead' and 'duplicate' categories. Three of these constituencies — Hanur, Kollegal, and Chamarajanagar — also saw a rise in the number of voters marked under both 'shifted' and 'absent'.

BLOs told The Hindu that when they visited many of these households, they could not locate the voters and thus classified them as 'absent'. Later, when the voters contacted them, the BLOs distributed the forms. However, electoral experts point out that if 100% of enumeration forms, including those related to ASDDO cases, were distributed and digitised, the ASDDO figures should not have subsequently increased on account of those same forms. Further, if a voter has filled out and returned the enumeration form, they cannot be marked under ASDDO in the first place. Any error in such cases may result in logical discrepancies, but the voter cannot be classified under ASDDO.

Officials in the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office offered an explanation for the anomaly. They said this could occur because a voter's form might have been digitised first, and when the list was shared with political parties, the person was subsequently flagged and marked under ASDDO based on information indicating that the voter had shifted or passed away. They added that it could also be because someone was wrongly categorised as dead instead of duplicate, or shifted instead of absent, leading to an increase in one category and a corresponding decline in another.

The data discrepancy has raised concerns among voter rights groups, who argue that such errors could disenfranchise eligible voters. They have called for a thorough review of the ASDDO process and greater transparency in how names are added or removed from electoral rolls. The CEO's office has assured that all complaints and corrections will be addressed before the final publication of the electoral roll.

This is not the first time that ASDDO lists have sparked controversy. In previous elections, similar issues have been reported, prompting election authorities to streamline the process. The latest figures, however, are particularly notable given the claim of 100% digitisation, which was intended to reduce errors and improve accuracy.

As the State gears up for upcoming elections, the integrity of the electoral roll remains a critical concern. Ensuring that every eligible voter is correctly listed is essential for free and fair elections. The authorities have urged voters to verify their names and file objections if they find any errors before the deadline.