Bengaluru | June 30 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar has urged citizens to verify their names in the electoral rolls as the state's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list got underway on Tuesday, warning that losing voting rights could also affect access to future government welfare schemes.
Speaking at the launch of the voter list revision drive, Shivakumar described the right to vote as the "right to live" and appealed to every eligible voter to ensure their details are correctly recorded.
"Do not ignore your voting rights. If your name is missing from the electoral roll, you could face difficulties in accessing government welfare benefits in the future," he cautioned.
The statewide SIR exercise will continue until July 29, with officials carrying out door-to-door verification of voter details.
Shivakumar pointed to developments in West Bengal, saying authorities had used voter-related verification to identify and remove ineligible ration card beneficiaries. He added that other states are also moving towards stricter verification systems, making it even more important for citizens to safeguard their voting rights.
To simplify the process, the Karnataka government has decided to issue permanent residence certificates, which will be available both online and through Seva centres. The certificates will help establish residential proof during voter verification.
The Election Commission clarified that no supporting documents will be collected during this phase. Voters only need to fill in the prescribed form, sign it, and submit it to the designated officials. Authorities stressed that the entire exercise is being conducted strictly in accordance with Election Commission guidelines and urged the public not to fall for misinformation.
According to the schedule, the draft electoral roll will be published on August 5, objections and claims can be filed until September 4, and the final voter list will be released on October 7.
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