Sun Jan 04 19:07:00 UTC 2026: News Article:
Kerala Grapples with Electoral Roll Revision, Millions Potentially Excluded
Thiruvananthapuram, January 5, 2026 – Kerala is facing significant challenges with its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, raising concerns about voter disenfranchisement. Out of 2.78 crore voters issued forms during house-to-house enumeration, 24.08 lakh were excluded when the draft roll was published on December 23rd. An additional 19.32 lakh voters remain in a state of uncertainty due to ‘no mapping’ issues, meaning they couldn’t be linked to the 2002 SIR roll.
Currently, the state is in the claims and objections phase. Election officials have issued 17.71 lakh notices, including 18,915 to electors with ‘no mapping’ issues. While officials maintain that eligible excluded voters can re-enroll, political parties are voicing strong opposition to the SIR.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and other political parties allege that the SIR has unjustly cast doubt on the citizenship of long-time voters, with many being incorrectly flagged as “Untraceable” or “EF Refused” on the Absent/Shifted/Dead (ASD) list. Some polling stations have seen an unusually high number of voters on the ASD list, including prominent citizens.
The situation in Kerala is particularly unique due to its large expatriate population, with parties claiming insufficient efforts have been made to include overseas electors. The overlapping timing of the SIR with the 2025 local body elections has also drawn comparisons, revealing a discrepancy between the number of voters listed by the State Election Commission (2.86 crore) and the ECI (2.54 crore after draft SIR roll publication).
Despite assurances from Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Kelkar that all eligible voters will be included in the final list (due February 21st), a significant “trust deficit” remains. The LDF and other parties view the ECI and the SIR with suspicion, alleging that it could further a political agenda.
The outcome of this SIR process is critical, as public trust hinges on ensuring that all eligible voters are included in a fair and accessible manner.
Summary of the Text:
Kerala is undergoing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral rolls, but the process has been plagued with issues. Millions of voters have been excluded or are facing uncertainty due to ‘no mapping’ problems. Political parties are criticizing the SIR, alleging that it is disenfranchising long-time voters and that it could potentially further a political agenda. Despite assurances from election officials, a “trust deficit” remains. The outcome of this SIR process is critical, as public trust hinges on ensuring that all eligible voters are included in a fair and accessible manner.
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