Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer V Anbuk Kumar has denied mass voter deletion allegations during the current electoral roll revision. Authorities are probing the misuse of 'Form 7' objection applications, with police filing FIRs against false declarations. The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on October 27, 2026, following the verification of over 91,000 disputed entries.
Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer V Anbuk Kumar has officially addressed concerns regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, denying allegations of mass voter deletions. The administrative update follows political friction surrounding the use of 'Form 7' applications, which are documents used to object to or seek the deletion of names from electoral lists.
Authorities have clarified that no names are being removed based solely on these objections. The Election Commission mandates a formal hearing and verification process for every objection. Electoral Registration Officers are required to issue notices to both the objector and the voter, ensuring a verified hearing process before any administrative action is taken. This procedural safeguard is intended to prevent the manipulation of the voter list and ensure the integrity of the process.
The state has processed over 91,000 Form 7 applications during the current revision cycle, which began in June 2026. In response to public and political complaints regarding the potential misuse of the system, the electoral office has moved to address concerns of knowingly false declarations. This has led to legal consequences, with police in districts including Belagavi, Bidar, and Mysuru registering FIRs in connection with the alleged fraudulent filing of electoral forms.
The electoral office has invoked Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, which provides a pathway for penal action against individuals who file knowingly false declarations. Officials confirmed that approximately 85 percent of the hearings related to the objections have been resolved.
The administrative focus is now on finalizing the electoral register. The process is set to conclude with the publication of the final electoral roll on October 27, 2026. Authorities have emphasized that the verification process remains ongoing and that continuous updates will persist post-publication to ensure that any eligible citizens who may have been omitted during the draft phase can still register through standard procedures.