Bengaluru, February 20, 2026 — Civil society groups and activists in Bengaluru have intensified their opposition to the proposed **Special Intensive Revision (SIR)** of electoral rolls in Karnataka, urging the state government to formally resist its implementation.
A coalition of organizations operating under the banner "My Vote, My Right"held a press conference in the city on Wednesday, voicing strong concerns that the SIR exercise — initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) — could result in large-scale disenfranchisement of vulnerable populations. They highlighted risks to women, migrants, transgender persons, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, and the working poor, citing stringent documentation requirements and inadequate safeguards.
Activists described the SIR as a threat to constitutional rights, with one prominent voice from the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti – Ambedkarvada, Mavalli Shankar, labeling it "electoral genocide." They criticized the process as arbitrary and potentially exclusionary, pointing to issues observed in states and Union Territories where earlier phases have been rolled out. The group also flagged problems with the ongoing preparatory voter roll mapping in Karnataka, alleging it is being conducted under pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) with insufficient training.
The coalition demanded that the Congress-led Karnataka government take a firm stand by:
- Passing a resolution against the SIR in both the Legislative Assembly and Council during the upcoming budget session.
- Convening an urgent meeting with civil society organizations and political parties to address voter concerns.
- Resisting implementation until the Supreme Court rules on related constitutional challenges.
Earlier protests, including a demonstration at Freedom Park on Saturday (February 7 or 8, depending on reports), saw participants chanting slogans like "Beda Beda SIR Beda" (Don't want SIR) and raising alarms over alleged opaque and hurried mapping processes that could delete legitimate voters.
The SIR is a nationwide ECI initiative to intensively revise electoral rolls, aimed at ensuring accuracy by verifying eligibility through house-to-house checks, family linkage (including "progeny mapping" to historical lists like the 2002 rolls), and removal of duplicates, deceased voters, or ineligible entries. Phase I was completed in states like Bihar, with Phase II preparations underway for Karnataka and others, expected to begin in April 2026. Karnataka has around 5.5 crore electors as per recent figures, with mapping covering over 3.8 crore so far.
Critics argue the stringent norms and verification demands disproportionately burden marginalized groups lacking easy access to old documents. The coalition has called for transparency and urged the state to prioritize universal adult franchise over what they see as a risky overhaul.
The Karnataka government has not yet issued a formal response to these specific demands, though some reports indicate reluctance to "politicize" the ECI-led process. Activists continue to press for a clear position from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's administration in defense of voters' rights.
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