Surge at voter facilitation centres across state increases wait time

Voter Facilitation Centres across Karnataka are experiencing significant surges in applicants seeking to submit enumeration forms for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. This influx has led to extended wait times, with many individuals waiting for hours to complete procedures. Complaints have surfaced regarding insufficient assistance at numerous locations, officials reported on Wednesday.

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I have been standing here for nearly three hours. I came to trace my family’s details in the 2002 electoral roll and submit the enumeration form, but there are too few people to guide us. Every counter has a long queue, and many of us are leaving without getting our doubts cleared.

Voters are flocking to these centres to locate their names and those of their family members on the 2002 electoral roll, fill out enumeration forms, and get guidance on necessary documentation. The increased footfall has strained available resources, prompting allegations that Booth Level Officers are struggling to assist everyone seeking help. Many voters expressed frustration over the time-consuming process of retrieving older electoral records and the limited number of officials available to address queries.

One voter waiting at a centre in Cooke Town stated, "I have been standing here for nearly three hours. I came to trace my family’s details in the 2002 electoral roll and submit the enumeration form, but there are too few people to guide us." The revision exercise, which began on June 30, will continue until July 29. Over 59,000 Booth Level Officers are deployed across Karnataka for house-to-house verification and to collect forms from more than 5.5 crore electors.

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Submit the signed enumeration form with the available information. This will ensure that your name is considered for inclusion in the electoral roll.

Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer, V. Anbukkumar, appealed to voters last week not to delay submitting their forms while searching for historical information, advising them to submit with available details to ensure their names are considered for inclusion. Disciplinary actions have been initiated against some field officials for alleged violations of guidelines, including distributing forms in groups instead of conducting mandatory house-to-house visits. Elected representatives have also raised concerns, with MLC Ramesh Babu arguing that the number of Voter Facilitation Centres is insufficient to meet public demand and urging the commission to ensure administrative shortcomings do not disenfranchise voters.

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Many eligible households had yet to receive enumeration forms and urged the Commission to ensure that administrative shortcomings did not result in voters being left out of the electoral roll.