Pre-SIR electoral mapping in Ernakulam points to shift of urban voters

Mapping of voter data, a precursor to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, is almost complete in Ernakulam district even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced SIR in Kerala.

The pre-SIR exercise involved mapping current voters with those present on the rolls prepared after the previous SIR carried out in 2002. It was done by the booth-level officers by comparing the two lists.

District election officials said above 60% of voters in the 2002 list had been identified in the latest rolls. The comparison was done excluding voters below 40 years in the latest list as they were not enrolled in the 2002 list.

“When it comes to Assembly constituency-wise comparison, a higher rate of voter retention has been observed in segments with a rural nature than in urban ones. While almost 65%-70% of voters enrolled in 2002 list have been located in the latest rolls of rural constituencies, the figure for urban constituencies is 50%-55%,” an official said.

The difference could have caused by various reasons including death and relocation of voters. “A major reason for the higher difference in urban constituencies such as Thrikkakara, Ernakulam, Thripunithura, Aluva, and Kalamassery could be a considerable size of floating population in those constituencies. Those who have not been located in the latest list include employees of public sector companies who must have returned to their hometowns along with their family after their retirement,” the official said.

The data compiled by booth-level officers has been sent to the State Election department and uploaded to a portal for further review and verification.

Meanwhile, the decision to conduct SIR has caused confusion among officials involved in the work as the exercise coincides with preparations for the local body elections due in two months. “The election and SIR are crucial affairs, and the same set of officials has to be involved in both. It is a confusing situation,” an official said. It was expected that the SIR may not be announced for Kerala since the local body polls are due. The ruling LDF and Opposition UDF in the Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution urging the ECI to withdraw its decision to conduct SIR in the State.