Karnataka voters in Kodagu, Bengaluru say enumeration forms never reached them despite official 100% claim

Despite official claims that all electoral enumeration forms have been distributed, several voters in Karnataka's Kodagu district and parts of Bengaluru say they have not received the forms. These discrepancies have emerged during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a process meant to update voter lists ahead of upcoming elections.

Officials state that every voter whose name appeared on the electoral roll as of June 16, when the rolls were frozen, was issued an enumeration form. However, residents in Virajpet taluk in Kodagu and in several Bengaluru neighbourhoods report that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) either did not visit them or told them their names had been deleted from the roll, despite possessing valid voter ID cards.

In Bengaluru, complaints have come from areas such as Byatarayanapura, Hebbal-Kempapura, and slum pockets like D.J. Halli and Bhangi Colony. Many residents say they have been unable to contact their BLOs, while others faced glitches while trying to fill forms online. One resident, Krishna Kumar from Byatarayanapura, said he and his neighbours could not reach the BLO, who was not answering calls. Some residents eventually collected forms from a nearby government school after tracking down the BLO, while others submitted forms online.

The complaints are concentrated in apartment complexes and slum areas, where many residents say they have yet to receive the forms. In Kodagu's Virajpet taluk, members of tribal communities in Balugodu and B. Shettigeri told reporters that they had valid voter documents but had not been given enumeration forms. A BLO in the area acknowledged that at least 20 voters had reported non-receipt of forms, though she maintained that all forms allotted to her had been distributed.

Some affected voters said they were initially told they had been shifted to another polling booth. But when they visited the new booths, officials there said their names had been deleted from the electoral roll. Residents describe being shuttled between gram panchayats and polling booths, uncertain where they are enrolled. Many are daily-wage labourers who have lost work and wages while trying to trace their names.

The same region had reported problems even during the pre-enumeration mapping exercise, when BLOs were unable to map a single resident in Kedamulur and surrounding plantation belts.

Voters who did receive forms allege that BLOs filled in both sides of the forms themselves, a procedure violation that could lead to errors. Of around 40 forms reviewed, only one had been filled correctly. Several voters said BLOs asked them only to sign, assuring them that family details would be added later with photographs. But the forms they saw had already been fully filled in.

Officials have said notices will be issued to voters who do not provide certain documents, such as those from 2002. However, members of the Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha point out that many plantation workers lack such records because employers often retain them and fail to return them when workers leave. Frequent migration between plantations also leaves many families without proof of permanent residence.

Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar has dismissed the allegations, saying no instances of eligible voters being denied forms have been reported and that all forms have been distributed. He reiterated that the revision process will ensure an accurate electoral roll. Yet, the gap between official figures and ground-level accounts highlights the need for verification and accessible recourse for affected voters, especially those in marginalised communities.