SIR in Karnataka: Adult family members allowed to attend hearings for senior citizens, PwD, sick, overseas electors
This follows backlash over hearings being conducted at the convenience of VIPs in their home while those needing assistance, such as senior citizens, sick and overseas voters, had to appear in person.
So far, only the person against whom a notice was issued was required to attend the hearing
Updated - September 11, 2026 02:56 pm IST - Bengaluru
A BLO issuing a notice to a resident of R.T. Nagar in Bengaluru as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka has directed election officials to allow adult family members of senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PwD), sick and overseas electors to appear before Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), on their behalf, to submit documents and information for disposal of notices issued to them.
The direction was issued by Joint Chief Electoral Officer S. Yogeshwara on September 11.
This follows the backlash over handling of the cases of prominent persons from various fields, with hearings being conducted at the convenience of VIPs in their home, while those needing assistance, such as senior citizens, sick and overseas voters, who cannot travel to the hearing venue or are not in the country, had to appear in person.
The EROs and AEROs have been told to explain the procedure followed for issuing and disposing of notices during their weekly meetings with political parties. The instruction applies to the District Election Officer, Bengaluru and Chief Commissioner, GBA, District Election Officers, and Deputy Commissioners across Karnataka, as well as election officials in the three BBMP election districts, and Bengaluru city corporations.
So far, only the person against whom a notice was issued was required to attend the hearing, where documents were to be submitted. Under this system, many electors had cited reasons, such as old age, medical condition, hearing timing clashing with work hours, or being outside the country, for inability to attend the hearing. Now, an adult family member of a senior citizen, sick elector, overseas elector, or person with a disability, can appear for the hearing on their behalf.
Other voters have to mandatorily appear for the hearing in person.
As on September 10,43,81,760 notices had been generated as per ECI data. As many as 24,97,075 notices are yet to be delivered, resulting in an overall delivery percentage of 56.99%. With regard to hearings, 7,03,710 delivered notices have been heard while 17,93,365 are yet to be heard.
Published - September 11, 2026 02:08 pm IST
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