Kannada-Only Voter Forms Leave Many Struggling, Raise Accessibility Concerns

Voters in Karnataka have raised concerns over the physical enumeration forms used in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process being printed solely in Kannada. While the forms can be filled in either English or Kannada, the paper version is available only in Kannada, causing difficulties for many.

Several voters reported that the form contains technical terms that are hard to understand even for those who read Kannada. Others noted that Kannada is not their mother tongue, leaving them uncertain about the meaning of various sections. The situation is further complicated because many Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are not from Karnataka and cannot read Kannada, making it challenging for them to assist voters or verify the accuracy of the forms.

Younger residents, in particular, expressed a preference for English, stating they are more comfortable with that language. They argued that forms should be available in both English and Kannada to ensure accessibility. Although an online version exists in English, many BLOs are reportedly insisting that voters fill in the physical form instead. This insistence is partly due to technical issues with the online system, which frequently flags errors like 'mismatched' or 'invalid' when voters try to verify their details.

The situation has raised concerns about the equity and efficiency of the enumeration drive. Voters question how BLOs can effectively help if they cannot read the form, and whether the process inadvertently disenfranchises those less proficient in Kannada. Officials have yet to respond to these concerns, but the issue underscores the need for multilingual forms in a diverse state like Karnataka.