Fill Enumeration Forms to Safeguard Your Voting Rights, Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar Urges Ahead of Special Voter Roll Revision
Bengaluru, June 29: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday appealed to every eligible voter in the state to fill and submit the Enumeration Form during the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, warning that failure to do so could result in the loss of voting rights.
Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, the Chief Minister said the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision process will begin on June 30 and continue until July 29, during which Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit every household to distribute Enumeration Forms.
Every Voter Must Submit Enumeration Form
Shivakumar urged all voters to complete the forms and submit them along with the required supporting documents and a recent photograph within the stipulated 30-day period.
“BLOs will visit every household three times to distribute the forms. If a voter receives the form but fails to submit it, they risk losing their voting rights,” he said.
He added that the draft electoral roll is scheduled to be published on August 5.
Political Party Representatives Can Also Assist
The Chief Minister said Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by recognised political parties can also assist citizens in completing and submitting the Enumeration Forms.
He said the Karnataka Government already possesses records of 5.50 crore caste certificates issued across the state, including 2,54,95,767 certificates for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and 2,94,51,027 certificates for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which can be downloaded for use wherever applicable.
Eleven Documents Accepted
Shivakumar said voters can submit their EPIC number while filling the forms and choose from 11 categories of supporting documents, including:
- Birth Certificate
- Passport
- Caste Certificate
- Forest Rights Certificate
- Government Housing or Site Allotment Records
- Central Government Pension Documents
49,320 Assistance Centres Across Karnataka
To facilitate the revision exercise, the government has authorised Deputy Tahsildars to issue Permanent Residence Certificates.
The Chief Minister announced that 49,320 assistance centres will be established across Gram Panchayats and urban wards to help citizens obtain and upload the required documents.
People whose mobile numbers are linked to their caste certificate records will also be able to download documents through WhatsApp, he said.
Government to Reach 5.50 Crore People
Shivakumar said the government has decided to assist nearly 5.50 crore residents through door-to-door outreach and appealed to every citizen to safeguard their voting rights.
He said both the Election Commission and the State Government would undertake awareness campaigns to ensure maximum participation in the exercise.
Voting Rights Linked to Access to Welfare Schemes
The Chief Minister cautioned that failure to retain voting rights could create difficulties in accessing government welfare benefits in the future.
Referring to developments in other states, he said some welfare programmes are increasingly linked to electoral records and urged citizens not to neglect the revision exercise.
He added that while the Karnataka Government is not discontinuing any welfare schemes immediately, citizens should ensure that their names remain on the electoral roll.
“Voting Right is the Right to Life”
Describing the franchise as a fundamental democratic right, Shivakumar said, “The right to vote is the right to life. Protecting that right is our responsibility.”
He also urged newly eligible citizens who have turned 18 years of age to apply for voter registration by submitting Form 6 along with proof of age.
Clarifications During the Press Conference
Responding to questions from journalists, the Chief Minister said:
- Tenants and persons without permanent housing can obtain the necessary residence certification by producing Aadhaar and other accepted identity documents, with local authorities empowered to issue certificates where eligible.
- The Enumeration Form can also be downloaded online and submitted digitally.
- BLOs will distribute around 50 forms per day, and the one-month window has been provided to ensure adequate time for every voter.
- He announced that he would personally fill and submit his own Enumeration Form on Tuesday, symbolically launching the process from his residence.
Government Launches Awareness Campaign
Shivakumar said the government’s priority is to ensure that no eligible voter loses the right to vote due to lack of awareness.
He added that help centres, awareness drives and public advertisements are being rolled out across the state to educate citizens about the Special Intensive Revision process.
Other Issues Raised
Replying to questions on other issues, the Chief Minister said:
- A Cabinet meeting is scheduled on July 2, after which he is expected to visit New Delhi.
- Ministers have been assigned responsibility for two to three districts each to monitor drought management.
- The State Government has written to the Centre seeking assistance for mango growers and expects support similar to last year.
- Funds have already been released to Deputy Commissioners to address drinking water shortages, noting that several parts of the country are facing rainfall-related challenges.
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