Full Breakdown
Special Intensive Revision Reshapes Karnataka’s Voter Rolls: Bengaluru Loses Millions, Haveri Gains Thousands
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In this breakdown
01
Core Event
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Karnataka’s electoral rolls, completed in late October 2026, produced starkly divergent outcomes. Bengaluru’s final roll published on October 27 listed 5,90,81,151 voters, a reduction of roughly 44 lakh (?43 %) from the pre-SIR figure of 1.03 crore recorded on June 16. Haveri district’s final roll showed an increase of 13,013 voters, bringing its total to 12,33,294.
02
Background & Context
The SIR audit removes duplicate, ineligible, or outdated entries and adds eligible new voters. Draft rolls were first published on August 24, followed by a month-long window for objections, Form 6 submissions, or deletion contests.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Data & Statistics
Swipe across the table to see all columns.
| Region | Final Roll (Oct 27) | Change vs. Pre-SIR | Gender Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru (city) | 5,90,81,151 | –44 lakh (?43 % drop) | 2,86,8670 male; 3,04,0431 female; 674 third-gender |
| Haveri district | 12,33,294 | +13,013 | 6,28,297 men; 6,04,969 women; 28 others |
| Young voters added (state-wide) | – | +6,875 (from 9,961 to 16,836) | – |
In Bengaluru, 65,881 names were deleted after hearings, with Bommanahalli, Dasarahalli, and B.T.M. Layout seeing deletions exceeding 50 % of their draft electorates.
04
Official Statements & Responses
- Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Vijayamahantesh Danammanavar (Haveri) urged voters to verify details at polling stations or tahsildar offices and said missing names could be added via Form 6. He noted 77 new polling stations were created in the district.
- Shilpa Nag, Special Commissioner, Election Division, Greater Bengaluru Authority, reported the draft roll on August 24 listed 56,99,660 voters; the final roll added 2,74,372 names while deleting 65,881.
- Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar said the process remained “transparent and lawful,” noting fewer than 1,000 foreign nationals (mostly from Nepal) were identified.
05
Criticism & Opposition
- Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s Home and IT-BT Minister, called the SIR “flawed” and biased toward the BJP, citing a complaint in Chittapura where Form 7 reached only 40 people.
- Noor Sridhar, leader of the anti-SIR coalition, demanded a social audit and public hearing, warning that eligible voters might have been arbitrarily excluded.
- Indhudhar Honnapura, a DSS activist, labeled the exercise “unscientific” and resource-intensive.
06
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The New Indian Express cites 44,80,212 deletions in Bengaluru, while The Hindu reports a net loss of “more than 43 lakh” names. Both agree on the scale but differ on exact figures. Officials say some removed voters may have been shifted to other polling stations, though a systematic accounting is pending.
07
What’s Next
State officials will discuss the issue at an upcoming cabinet meeting and consider technology to trace reassigned names. The Election Commission has halted new Form 6 applications during the two-month revision, potentially leaving some residents unable to re-enrol. Monitoring and possible further updates to the rolls are expected before the next general elections.