Karnataka is experiencing a significant surge in the number of voters classified under the Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, Dead, and Others (ASDDO) category, a trend driven by a combination of factors including migration and low public awareness. As of early August 2026, over 1.10 crore voters, representing nearly 20% of the state’s total electoral roll, have been marked in this category, positioning Karnataka to potentially record one of the highest draft-stage electoral roll deletions in the country.
Electoral Roll Revisions Underway
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is currently underway across Karnataka, with a deadline for enumeration forms approaching on August 8, 2026. Recent data indicates a rapid pace of digitisation, with a substantial portion of the digitised forms being classified under the ASDDO category. In some instances, daily data has shown that as much as 75% of digitised forms are being marked as ASDDO, raising concerns among election officials and observers.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, V. Anbu Kumar, acknowledged that the ASDDO list is designed to facilitate deletions from the electoral roll. Voters whose names appear in this list will receive notices, and their names may be removed unless they actively object and confirm their continued residency or correct status. This process is crucial for maintaining an accurate and up-to-date electoral database.
Factors Contributing to High ASDDO Numbers
Migration, both internal and external, is cited as a primary driver for the high number of voters in the ASDDO category. With Bengaluru serving as a major hub for economic activity, many residents relocate within or outside the city, and if their electoral records are not updated, they risk being classified as shifted. Additionally, a lack of awareness among the public about the importance of updating their voter registration details when they change addresses contributes significantly to this issue.
The process involves Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting spot inspections. If a voter is not found at their registered address after multiple visits, they are marked as absent or shifted. In cases where a voter has shifted residence but has not updated their address in the electoral records, they are classified as permanently shifted after three visits by BLOs. This has been identified as a major reason for the high number of voters in the permanently shifted category, particularly within Bengaluru.
Data analysis reveals that within the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) South district, the percentage of voters marked as ASDDO has surpassed the number of forms that have been successfully digitised. Several Assembly constituencies within Bengaluru Urban, BBMP North, BBMP Central, and BBMP South districts are showing a higher proportion of ASDDO cases than digitised entries. These include constituencies such as Dasarahalli, CV Raman Nagar, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Rajajinagar, Bommanahalli, Vijayanagar, BTM Layout, Basavanagudi, and Govindarajanagar.
Concerns and Verification Processes
Concerns have been raised by political parties and observers regarding the high ASDDO figures. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, for instance, submitted a representation expressing concern over more than 80 lakh electors being placed under this category. In response, the Chief Electoral Officer has stated that areas reporting unusually high or low ASDDO numbers will be reviewed. He maintained that every voter classified under ASDDO is supported by documentary or field evidence, including death certificates where applicable. Any voter wrongly marked as absent or shifted has the option to submit the prescribed form to have their details corrected before the final electoral roll is published.
The verification process includes conducting a spot mahazar with signatures from booth level agents, locals, or BLO supervisors as witnesses for ASDDO cases. For deceased electors, a death certificate is obtained, or a spot mahazar is performed with witness signatures. To prevent wrongful classification, election officials share ASDDO records with BLAs and local political representatives for verification. Despite these measures, some BLOs have admitted that genuine electors, including members of the same family, have been wrongly classified as shifted or absent. The unavailability of historical supplementary rolls also contributes to the problem, as BLOs sometimes struggle to map voters when physical or digital records are missing.
As of July 29, 2026, over 84 lakh voters had been identified under the ASDDO category across the state. Breaking down these figures, 11,61,231 voters were found to be untraceable, 51,74,968 had permanently shifted from their registered addresses, 14,99,799 were identified as deceased, and 5,62,572 were found to have duplicate registrations. The remaining were classified under other categories. While over 4.26 crore forms have been digitised, more than 43 lakh forms are yet to be submitted statewide, and over 16.57 lakh forms in Bengaluru are still pending digitisation. The final electoral roll is expected to be published on October 19, 2026.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
