Will Special Intensive Revision Begin In Karnataka From April? Govt To Decide After Feb 28

The Election Commission is planning to begin a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka from April 2026, placing the state in a second cluster of 23 states and Union Territories where the exercise is expected to be carried out next. The move follows earlier rounds launched in other parts of the country, and officials in Karnataka have now been asked to speed up all groundwork and logistical preparations ahead of the proposed rollout.

Within the state administration, the law department has been tasked with examining the Special Intensive Revision process in detail and must submit its report to the government by February 28. The subject was discussed during a cabinet meeting held on February 12, but ministers did not arrive at a final decision. The findings of the law department are expected to guide the government's formal stand on the exercise.

The planned revision has already triggered criticism from civil society groups in Karnataka. Several organisations have raised concerns about the potential impact of the exercise, with some calling it an "electoral genocide". In a representation submitted by the forum My Vote, My Right, Mavalli Shankar, state convener of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti-Ambedkarvada, urged the ruling Congress government to oppose the process and questioned the party's position on avoiding political debate on the issue.

The Special Intensive Revision was first implemented in Bihar on June 24, 2025, making it the first state where the process began. On October 27, the Election Commission of India announced the exercise for another group of 12 states. While revision is ongoing in those states, chief electoral officers in the second cluster - including Karnataka - have now been instructed to begin administrative and logistical preparations.

In an official communication issued on Thursday, the Election Commission stated that the exercise in newly listed states and Union Territories is expected to start from April 2026 and asked authorities to complete preparatory work at the earliest. This includes training Booth Level Officers (BLOs), arranging equipment and field kits, and setting up systems for large-scale voter mapping.

Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukumar said preparations are already underway, with a focus on voter mapping - a process distinct from verification, which takes place during the revision itself. Mapping involves identifying eligible voters using both the 2002 electoral roll and the 2025 revised list. The process also tracks interstate voter movement into Karnataka by linking them to their last registered constituency and mapping eligible family members.

Data shared by officials underline the size of the Special Intensive Revision exercise in the state. Karnataka has 34 districts and an estimated 5.5 crore electors in 2025, of whom around 3.8 crore voters - including their progeny - have already been mapped as part of preparatory work. The state government's decision following the law department's report on February 28 is expected to determine how the remaining stages of the exercise move forward ahead of the proposed April 2026 rollout.