Karnataka Election Officials File Over 60,000 Form-7 Applications Without Reasons After Objection Deadline

Between September 24 and October 22, Karnataka officials filed more than 60,800 Form-7 applications to delete voter names, despite the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 requiring a stated reason. Filings spiked after the claims-and-objections window closed on September 23, 2026. On October 22 alone, 10,105 applications were submitted; the previous day saw 10,314, and on October 17 and 19 the numbers were 11,132 and 11,760 respectively. The forms were auto-generated with digital signatures of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), leaving the reason field blank.

The HinduKarnataka completes hearings for 43.82 lakh SIR notices, final roll on October 27 ThePrintNew Indian Express

Form-7 objects to a name’s inclusion on the roll or requests deletion on grounds such as shift, duplicate entry, under-age status, death, or loss of citizenship. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Karnataka’s rolls ran from June 16 to October 22, issuing 4,382,824 notices to electors flagged for “no-mapping” or logical anomalies. Only objections received by September 23 were to be considered for the final roll; later filings affect a supplementary roll.

The Hindu

• Total Form-7 applications (June 16 – Oct 22): 228,917.

The Indian Express

• Applications filed by officials: at least 61,059, all without reasons.

The Hindu

• District peaks: Bengaluru Urban (24,268), BBMP South (19,662), BBMP North (18,659).

ThePrint

• In BBMP South, officials submitted 10,374 of 17,491 applications; in Bommanahalli constituency, 4,095 of 5,757.

The Hindu

• Other forms processed: 1,042,863 Form-6, 4,840 Form-6A, 1,310,841 Form-8, totaling 2,587,461 applications across categories.

ThePrint

Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar said the final electoral roll will be shared with all parties on October 27 and posted on the CEO’s website. The CEO’s office confirmed that all 4,382,824 notices have been generated, delivered and that hearings are complete statewide. Applications received up to September 23 were cleared on a priority basis, and details of rejected Form-7 applications, including reasons, will be provided to parties with the final roll.

New Indian ExpressThePrintKarnataka completes hearings for 43.82 lakh SIR notices, final roll on October 27 The HinduThe Indian Express

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar alleged that the BJP was misusing Form-7 to file bulk objections aimed at disenfranchising voters. The BJP rejected the claim, saying the filings complied with procedural requirements.

ThePrint

The CEO’s office reported 170,442 Form-7 applications filed after September 23, yet the consolidated Form-10 records on the Election Commission of India website list only 156,634, leaving a gap of 13,808 applications. A sample check by *The Hindu* found that names cited in post-deadline applications had already been deleted from the roll, raising questions about the necessity and legality of those filings under Rule 17 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

The HinduThePrintKarnataka completes hearings for 43.82 lakh SIR notices, final roll on October 27 New Indian Express

• “The final electoral roll will be shared with all political parties on October 27. It will also be published on the CEO’s website,” — Chief Electoral Officer

New Indian Express

The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on October 27. Electors whose names are removed may challenge the decision before district election officers or the CEO, submit Form 6 for inclusion, or approach a court. Applications filed after the deadline will be considered only for a supplementary roll, as stipulated by the SIR process.

New Indian Express