Now Reading: SIR revision cuts voters in four states, Karnataka shows female majority
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SIR revision cuts voters in four states, Karnataka shows female majority
SIR revision cuts voters in four states, Karnataka shows female majority
A special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of assembly elections has caused a sharp decline in voter numbers in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, while Bihar's growth slowed, according to an analysis published by Telangana Today. Using Election Commission data, the analysis found that between 2021 and 2026, male electors in Kerala fell by 0.49% and female by 1.69%, Tamil Nadu saw a drop of 9.35% among men and 8.25% among women, and West Bengal recorded a 6.5% decline in male and 7.28% in female electors. In Bihar, male voters grew by 1.92% and female by 0.86%, down sharply from the previous period.
Separately, the New Indian Express reported that Karnataka's draft SIR roll, released on 24 August 2026, shows 4,46,80,151 electors, with women outnumbering men: 2,24,75,553 females against 2,22,01,727 males. Over 1.07 crore citizens were removed under the Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate and Others category. The claims and objections period runs from 24 August to 23 September 2026, with notices to 43.81 lakh electors flagged for anomalies. Citizens must physically appear before an Electoral Registration Officer for verification.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Telangana Today's analysis frames the SIR-driven drop in voter numbers in three states as a demographic shift worth scrutiny, highlighting a faster decline among women in Kerala and West Bengal. The New Indian Express reports Karnataka's SIR as a routine procedural update, emphasising women outnumbering men and the notice process without noting the massive 1.07-crore deletion. The balanced read: the SIR exercise is mechanically the same across states, but its impact on gender composition varies sharply, raising questions about data quality and access. The claims period closing on 23 September 2026 will test how many flagged voters successfully reclaim their place on the rolls.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): telanganatoday.com (neutral report), newindianexpress.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
