Karnataka SIR: 95% Notices Delivered as Deadlines Near
Karnataka’s Special Intensive Revision has entered a crucial phase, with 41.63 lakh of 43.82 lakh notices delivered and hearings still pending for 12.82 lakh cases. As October deadlines approach, voters, election officials, and political parties are focused on completing verification, resolving objections, and ensuring eligible names are accurately reflected in the final electoral roll.
The latest update on Karnataka SIR 2026 puts the voter-verification exercise at a critical point. According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, 41,63,368 of 43,82,296 notices generated during the Special Intensive Revision had been delivered by the latest reporting period, representing about 95% of the total. However, notice delivery is only one part of the process. Hearings, document verification, disposal of claims and objections, and final corrections must still be completed before the final electoral roll is published on October 27.
The figures have made Special Intensive Revision Karnataka a major subject of public and political discussion. The process is intended to verify electoral information and address discrepancies in voter records, while opposition parties have raised concerns about possible exclusion of eligible voters. The Election Commission and Karnataka election authorities have maintained that the exercise is being conducted under the prescribed process.
Takeaway: Six Numbers and Dates to Remember
- 41,63,368 notices had been delivered out of 43,82,296 generated notices, putting delivery at approximately 95%, according to the Karnataka CEO’s office.
- 28,80,882 hearings had been completed, equal to 69.20% of delivered notices, leaving approximately 12,82,486 hearings to be completed.
- October 12, 2026 is the deadline for completing hearings, while October 22, 2026 is the deadline for disposal of notices, claims, and objections.
- October 27, 2026 is the scheduled publication date for the final electoral roll.
- Bengaluru’s four districts accounted for approximately 24.05 lakh notices, more than half of the notices generated in the initial notice exercise.
- The latest figures show 19,48,164 applications across Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8, including 7,70,988 Form 6 applications and 11,11,495 Form 8 applications.
What Is SIR and Why Were 43 Lakh Notices Issued?
The Special Intensive Revision is an electoral-roll verification exercise intended to identify discrepancies, update voter information, and ensure that electoral records reflect eligible voters.
In Karnataka, notices were primarily generated for two groups: voters categorized under “No Mapping” and those identified with “Anomalies.”
“No Mapping” broadly refers to cases where current voter information could not be linked with relevant records from the 2002 electoral roll. “Anomalies” refers to logical discrepancies in information, including differences involving names, ages, or parent details.
When the notice phase began, 20,35,312 voters were categorized under anomalies and 23,45,428 under no mapping. Together, the categories represented approximately 43.8 lakh voters.
This is why Karnataka SIR 95% notices delivered is an important but incomplete measure of progress. Receiving a notice does not itself mean that a voter has been removed from the electoral roll. It means the relevant entry requires clarification or verification.
41.63 Lakh Notices Delivered: Latest Numbers
The Karnataka CEO’s office reported that 41,63,368 notices had been delivered from the total 43,82,296 notices generated. About 2,18,928 notices were still pending delivery.
The remaining notices are particularly significant because the hearing deadline is October 12. The Times of India reported that the remaining notices needed to reach voters sufficiently in advance, with October 5 identified as the practical latest date for delivery to provide approximately one week for voters to prepare documents.
The latest update therefore shifts attention from simply delivering notices to completing the verification process within the remaining time.
Bengaluru Accounts for More Than Half of Notices
Bengaluru has emerged as the largest concentration point in the Karnataka SIR exercise.
According to data reported at the beginning of the notice phase, 24,05,990 notices came from Bengaluru’s four districts. These included approximately 9.46 lakh notices from Bengaluru Urban, 6.13 lakh from BBMP North, 4.29 lakh from BBMP Central, and 4.18 lakh from BBMP South.
Bengaluru SIR Numbers at a Glance
- Bengaluru Urban: about 9.46 lakh
- BBMP North: about 6.13 lakh
- BBMP Central: about 4.29 lakh
- BBMP South: about 4.18 lakh
- Four Bengaluru districts combined: about 24.05 lakh
The concentration is significant because Bengaluru alone represents more than half of the notices generated statewide during this phase.
Nearly 12.82 Lakh Hearings Still Pending
The next major test is not notice delivery but hearings.
As of the latest reported figures, 28,80,882 inquiries or hearings had been completed, representing 69.20% of delivered notices. Approximately 12,82,486 hearings remained pending.
That distinction matters. A delivered notice simply informs the voter that clarification is required. The subsequent hearing and document verification determine whether the relevant record can be resolved.
Districts Showing Faster Progress
Some districts have reported substantially higher hearing completion rates:
- Ramanagara: 91.91%
- Chikkamagaluru: about 87%
- Davangere: about 85%
- Shivamogga: about 83%
Eleven districts had completed notice delivery, including Kolar, Hassan, Chitradurga, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Bagalkot, Ballari, Vijayanagar, Ramanagaram, Chamarajanagar, and Davangere.
Karnataka SIR Deadline: Key Dates to Know
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| August 24, 2026 | Draft electoral rolls published and claims and objections process began |
| September 23, 2026 | Original claims and objections period ended |
| October 12, 2026 | Deadline for completing hearings |
| October 22, 2026 | Deadline for disposal of notices, claims and objections |
| October 27, 2026 | Final electoral roll scheduled for publication |
The October 12 and October 22 dates are especially important. The first concerns completion of hearings, while the second concerns disposal of the cases and objections before the final roll is prepared.
What Documents Do Voters Need?
Voters receiving SIR notices may be required to appear before the relevant Assistant Electoral Registration Officer or Electoral Registration Officer and provide documentary evidence.
Indicative documents reported in connection with the process include:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- SSLC marks card
- Other documents accepted under the applicable verification requirements
The exact documentation required can depend on the individual case. Voters should therefore follow the instructions contained in their notice rather than assume that every applicant must produce every document.
Form 6, Form 7 and Form 8: Latest Data
The wider revision has also generated a substantial number of applications.
As reported on September 25, officials had received 19,48,164 forms between June 6 and September 24:
- Form 6: 7,70,988 applications for inclusion
- Form 6A: 4,551 applications
- Form 7: 61,130 applications
- Form 8: 11,11,495 applications
Form 6 is generally associated with inclusion, Form 6A with overseas electors, Form 7 with objections or deletion requests, and Form 8 with corrections or changes to voter information.
Form 7 Controversy
Form 7 has become a political flashpoint in Karnataka. According to the CEO’s office, among the 61,130 Form 7 applications, no voter had sought deletion of another person’s name through the provision at the point reported by The Times of India. Officials said the applications were from voters or their families seeking removal of their own entries.
This official clarification is important because allegations concerning Form 7 have become part of the wider SIR politics in Karnataka debate. Individual political allegations should be distinguished from verified administrative data.
Congress Raises Concerns Over SIR
The ruling Congress has publicly criticized aspects of the revision.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Congress president B.K. Hariprasad participated in a Congress protest in Bengaluru on September 26. Congress leaders have raised concerns about possible exclusion of eligible voters and questioned the Election Commission’s handling of the revision.
The Congress has also cited specific cases that it says demonstrate problems in the process. For example, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee raised concerns about voter numbers in a Bengaluru polling part and sought additional verification and grievance mechanisms. Those claims remain allegations by the party rather than established findings.
BJP and Election Commission’s Position
The BJP has taken a different position in the wider SIR debate. BJP leaders have defended the Election Commission’s role and argued that electoral-roll verification is necessary to address inaccurate, duplicate, or otherwise problematic entries. BJP MP Sambit Patra, for example, defended internal deliberations within the Election Commission as part of institutional functioning.
The Election Commission has maintained that SIR decisions and schedules were approved collectively by the full Commission and has described internal differences during deliberations as part of institutional functioning. The Commission’s position is important to distinguish from claims made by individual Political parties.
In Karnataka, the CEO has also said the exercise is being conducted according to ECI directions and applicable law.
Electoral Roll Numbers and the Wider Picture
Karnataka had 5,54,32,314 electors when the rolls were frozen on June 16, 2026. The draft electoral roll published on August 24 contained 4,46,80,151 electors. More than 1.07 crore electors were categorized under ASDDO, meaning Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate and Other.
The scale helps explain why Karnataka electoral rolls have become a major political and administrative issue. It also explains why Karnataka voter verification is receiving attention from voters, election officials, Politicians, and civil society groups.
For people following Karnataka voter list 2026 developments, the key point is that the draft roll is not necessarily the final position. Claims, objections, hearings and corrections continue to shape the final list.
What Happens Before the Final Electoral Roll?
The remaining stages are straightforward in principle but significant in scale. Pending notices must be delivered, voters must receive an opportunity to respond where required, hearings must be completed, and claims and objections must be disposed of.
The Karnataka SIR 2026: 95% notices delivered figure therefore represents substantial progress in the notice phase, but it should not be interpreted as 95% completion of the entire SIR exercise.
The final stage is scheduled for October 27. Until then, election officials will continue processing outstanding cases and applications.
FAQs
What does SIR mean in Karnataka?
SIR means Special Intensive Revision. It is an electoral-roll verification and revision exercise intended to update voter records and identify discrepancies.
How many SIR notices were generated?
The latest Karnataka CEO figures cited by The Times of India show 43,82,296 notices generated, with 41,63,368 delivered.
What is the last date for SIR hearings?
The deadline for completing hearings is October 12, 2026. The disposal deadline for notices, claims and objections is October 22, 2026.
When will the final Karnataka voter list be published?
The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on October 27, 2026.
Does receiving a notice mean a voter has been deleted?
No. A notice indicates that clarification or verification is required. The subsequent hearing and applicable process determine the status of the entry.
Final Takeaway
Karnataka’s SIR process has reached an important administrative stage. With 95% of generated notices delivered, the immediate challenge is completing the remaining hearings and resolving pending cases before the October deadlines. Bengaluru accounts for a substantial share of the workload, while district-level completion rates vary considerably. The final electoral roll will reflect the outcome of this verification, claims, objections, and correction process.
Stay informed, check your electoral details, and respond promptly to any official notice before the applicable deadline.
