Karnataka officials allow family members to assist overseas electors

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Karnataka has introduced new measures to assist overseas electors during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026. To facilitate the disposal of notices, any adult family member is now permitted to appear before an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) to submit required documents and information on behalf of the voter.

This facility has also been extended to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and sick electors who may face physical difficulties in attending in person. The directive has been issued to all District Election Officers, Deputy Commissioners, and relevant authorities in Bengaluru to ensure these instructions are implemented.

In a related development, representatives of the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) community have urged the Chief Electoral Officer to provide a one-year window for voter list verification. Advocates noted that many NRIs living abroad for decades face practical challenges in producing old documentation on short notice and expressed concerns regarding the travel costs and logistical difficulties of returning to India specifically for electoral verification.