55,000 Names to Be Removed From Voter List: Kerala CEO

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer Rathan Khelkar said that around 55,000 enumeration forms distributed as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll have been reported as uncollectable. Of these, about 29,000 belong to deceased individuals, around 4,500 people could not be traced, and nearly 20,000 have changed their place of residence. Another 2,800 entries in the current voter list have been identified as duplicates. These names will have to be removed immediately, Khelkar said at a press conference.

BLOs (Booth Level Officers) have accurate booth-level data on voters who need to be removed from the rolls. As per Election Commission guidelines, booth-level agents of recognised political parties must verify the details held by the BLOs. These figures should be discussed in meetings with the BLOs, and the final list of deletions must be confirmed in the presence of booth-level agents. The verified list should then be recorded in the minutes and forwarded to the Election Commission, the CEO added.

Khelkar also stated that 97 percent of the enumeration form distribution has been completed across Kerala. The first phase, held from November 4 to December 4, involved distributing the forms, while the second phase focuses on collecting the filled forms through home visits or booth-level camps. In the third phase, the forms will be uploaded via the mobile application. So far, around five lakh forms have been digitised. Form distribution remains incomplete mainly in urban areas such as Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.

He emphasised that BLOs play a central role in the SIR process and that the Election Commission strictly follows established rules and laws in supervising their work. The progress made in the revision process is due to the dedicated efforts of BLOs, he said. The Commission has been supporting them and will resolve any difficulties they face. Khelkar added that the Election Commission will support the family of BLO Aneesh George, who died by suicide reportedly due to work pressure.

The CEO also said that attempts to obstruct BLOs while distributing forms have been reported from some areas. Strict action will be taken in such cases, including criminal charges that carry imprisonment of up to 10 years for obstructing officials. Action will also be taken against fake campaigns or abusive content targeting BLOs on social media. District Collectors have been instructed to ensure police assistance if BLOs encounter difficulties during field visits.