Over 10.8 million Karnataka voters flagged in SIR; Minister Shivakumar urges longer claims window

The Indian Express reports that about 1.08 crore voters in Karnataka have been marked in the State’s SIR, a system used to verify voter eligibility ahead of upcoming elections. The flagging indicates discrepancies that could affect the voters' inclusion in the electoral roll.

K. Shivakumar, a senior leader of the state government, has appealed to the election authorities for a longer window during which affected voters can submit claims to correct their records. He argued that the current deadline may not give enough time for millions of people to gather the necessary documentation.

Election officials have acknowledged the scale of the issue and said they will review the request for an extended claims period. The outcome will determine how many of the flagged voters can be reinstated before the next polling phase.