In Karnataka, beyond Bengaluru, at least 16 districts have reported that over **12%** of their voters fall under the Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, Dead, and Others (ASDDO) category. This significant finding raises concerns about voter participation and registration accuracy across the state.
The districts affected include **Koppal**, **Gadag**, **Kolar**, **Raichur**, **Kalaburagi**, **Yadgir**, **Dharwad**, **Kodagu**, **Mysuru**, **Vijayapura**, **Bagalkot**, **Bidar**, **Ballari**, **Davangere**, **Shivamogga**, and **Vijayanagar**. Notably, many of these regions are also ranked among the lowest in Karnataka’s Human Development Index (HDI) according to a recent report by the **Govind Rao Committee** on regional inequalities.
The report designates these districts as “most backward” or “more backward,” highlighting that nearly **60%** of the state’s backward taluks are located in north Karnataka. These districts also suffer from pronounced gender disparity and notable literacy gaps, exacerbating their socio-economic challenges.
In contrast, **Udupi**, recognized for its high HDI ranking, shows the lowest ASDDO rate at **5.76%**, compared to **17.86%** in Yadgir, despite both having an electorate of over **10.5 lakh voters**. This discrepancy further illustrates the issues prevalent in lower HDI districts.
Such districts typically experience higher labor migration rates, lower educational levels, inadequate access to public services, and significant documentation challenges, contributing to the categorization of voters as absent, shifted, or in need of corrections.
According to **Booth Level Officers (BLOs)**, many voters from these regions are employed in Bengaluru but remain registered in their hometowns. When enumeration forms are sent to these native villages, those working away are often marked as “absent.” Moreover, voters who moved their registration to Bengaluru may not be included in the local electoral rolls, leading to further misclassification.
Many individuals from these districts who were contacted through various unions and citizens’ help desks voiced a lack of awareness regarding the **Special Intensive Revision (SIR)** process and mentioned that they have been migrating over the years to cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Goa for seasonal employment. They are primarily engaged in construction, waste management, or domestic work.
Documentation gaps also pose significant hurdles for these voters. Many reported having only basic documents like Aadhaar and ration cards, lacking the necessary proof of residence to obtain permanent residence certificates due to their migratory lifestyle.
Under the current SIR framework, voters not present during enumeration are classified as “absent,” while those not located at their registered addresses are deemed “shifted.” Unlike the standard revision process, no advance notices are issued; officials rely solely on mahazars for verification. Consequently, individuals labeled as absent or shifted are often unaware of their registration status.
Despite assurances from **Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar** that contacts with neighbors are being made for confirmation, BLOs indicate that entire communities frequently migrate for work, complicating the task of locating these voters.
In Bengaluru alone, **34.25 lakh** of the over **50.34 lakh voters** categorized under ASDDO are classified as permanently shifted, primarily due to migration. A similar trend is observable in districts from which these individuals migrate, although officials have yet to clarify how these voters are being accounted for. Notably, in **Kalaburagi**, **5.20 lakh** voters are under ASDDO, with **3.95 lakh** marked as absent or shifted.
This situation underscores the urgent need for improved voter registration practices and better awareness programs to address these issues in Karnataka, particularly in regions facing economic challenges.
