Karnataka SIR: Family Members Can Represent Senior Citizens, PwD, Sick, Overseas Voters
Election officials in Karnataka have been directed to allow adult family members of senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PwD), sick electors and overseas voters to appear before Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) on their behalf. The family member may submit the documents and information required to dispose of notices issued to such electors.
The instruction was issued on September 11 by Joint Chief Electoral Officer S. Yogeshwara. It applies to the District Election Officer, Bengaluru, the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, District Election Officers and Deputy Commissioners across Karnataka, as well as election officials in the three BBMP election districts and the Bengaluru city corporations.
What the notices are about
The notices are part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a door-to-door verification exercise in which election officials check electors' details. Electors who received notices were earlier required to attend a hearing in person and produce documents in support of their entries. Under that system, only the person named in the notice could appear.
Many electors had cited old age, a medical condition, hearing timings clashing with work hours, or being outside the country as reasons they could not attend. From now, an adult family member of a senior citizen, a sick elector, an overseas elector or a person with a disability may attend on their behalf. All other voters must still appear for the hearing in person.
Why the change was made
The direction follows criticism of the way cases of prominent persons from various fields were handled, with hearings conducted at their homes at their convenience, while electors who needed assistance had to travel to the hearing venue or return to the country to attend.
Over the past five days, hearings at several venues highlighted the difficulties faced by senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Many were seen waiting for hours at crowded venues — first to reach the ERO, then to have their notices scanned and their documents checked. Several said they were unclear about which documents were required and whether originals or copies had to be submitted. In many cases, electors had to make repeated trips to collect additional documents and return to the venue when those already submitted were found insufficient, or have their hearings rescheduled.
EROs and AEROs have now also been told to explain the procedure followed for issuing and disposing of notices during their weekly meetings with political parties, so that the process is clearly communicated to the public.
The numbers so far
According to Election Commission of India data, 43,81,760 notices had been generated as on September 10. As many as 24,97,075 notices are yet to be delivered, an overall delivery percentage of 56.99%. On hearings, 7,03,710 delivered notices have been heard, while 17,93,365 are yet to be heard.
The revision of electoral rolls is a routine exercise carried out to keep voter lists accurate and up to date. Electors who have received notices are advised to respond within the time given, and to check with their local election office if they are unsure about the documents required.
