Raising concerns over the ongoing voter roll mapping exercise in Bengaluru, ‘My Vote, My Right” group has submitted a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka, V. Anbukumar, pointing out at procedural lapses, technical glitches, and the risk of large-scale exclusion of vulnerable populations.

The letter, based on interactions with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and residents across multiple localities, also highlights pressure being exerted on the BLOs by supervisory officials to complete the mapping process without adequate support. The BLOs have reportedly cited a lack of proper training, clear guidelines, and standardised protocols, making it difficult to ensure comprehensive and accurate mapping.

The complainants also referred to a prior letter dated April 1, regarding the alleged exclusion of voters in Subhash Nagar, claiming that subsequent meetings with Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and senior officials only intensified pressure on the BLOs while holding them responsible for lapses.

The representation argues that the burden of an “unclear” process is being unfairly shifted onto the BLOs, instead of the Election Commission ensuring proper training, sufficient time for the exercise, and public awareness to help voters prepare the necessary documentation. 

The letter also details issues encountered during the mapping process. Volunteers who organised help desks, including one in Subhash Nagar where around 100 voters were assisted, reported difficulties in locating names in the 2002 voter rolls using the ECI website.

According to them, individuals aged above 40 years who have migrated frequently are often unable to recall their place of enrolment in 2002, making mapping nearly impossible. Similarly, younger voters who cannot trace their parents’ or grandparents’ enrolment details from that period are also unable to complete the process.

In multiple instances, voters who produced voter ID cards issued in 1995 or 2002 were still not traceable in the 2002 rolls on the ECI website, which displayed “Record not found” despite entering details such as constituency and part numbers.

The letter also points to apparent technical glitches and cases where long-term residents who claimed to have voted at the same booth for decades could not be located in past rolls.

The BLOs have further indicated to the group that due to mounting pressure, inaccuracies are creeping into the data being entered, with errors such as misidentifying familial relationships, which could create complications during later verification stages.

Another major concern raised pertains to notices being issued to voters alleging that their names are registered in multiple locations. The issue is more complicated in communities where people commonly use single names or share widely prevalent names.