Missing Form 7 Data on Portal Hampers Public Scrutiny in Karnataka

Details of approximately 29,000 Form 7 applications submitted to seek the deletion of names from electoral rolls in Karnataka have not been made public on official web portals. The missing records prevent public scrutiny despite earlier directives from election authorities that all such objection filings must remain accessible online.

The discrepancy has emerged during the ongoing special intensive revision process across the state. Transparency advocates and political observers note that the omission restricts the ability of citizens and candidates to verify the legitimacy of mass deletion requests in real time.

Statewide data released by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer indicates that total Form 7 submissions crossed 110,654 out of over 23 lakh total applications received by October 8. However, records for nearly one-fourth of these deletion requests are missing from the public domain, creating friction between aggregate figures reported by officials and verifiable online datasets.

Election officials maintain that no voter has been removed from the electoral rolls solely on the basis of unverified Form 7 filings. Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukkumar stated that every objection requires mandatory field verification, spot inspections, and a formal hearing before any Electoral Registration Officer decides on a deletion.

The controversy follows multiple police complaints and registered first information reports across districts including Bengaluru, Ballari, and Dakshina Kannada. Local residents and political leaders have alleged that pre-printed forms were deployed in bulk to target specific demographics without the knowledge of the registered voters.

In response to mounting criticism over bulk filings, the Election Commission of India introduced strict numerical caps on objection submissions by individuals. The rules now limit an elector to ten Form 7 applications during the claims period and five per month during continuous updation.

Field-level functionaries have been instructed to conclude pending notices and settle logical discrepancies before finalising roll amendments. Authorities indicate that hearings and spot checks will continue under administrative oversight to safeguard eligible electors from arbitrary removal.