Civil society to audit voter rolls in Kodagu ahead of elections

Civil society organizations in Kodagu district are set to undertake a comprehensive social audit of the electoral rolls to scrutinize deletions and anomalies ahead of upcoming elections. The audit, scheduled for September 29, will involve the systematic review of voter registration data to identify and flag potential irregularities in the electoral process.

As part of the audit procedure, representatives from civil society groups will publicly read out entries from the draft electoral roll and cross-reference them against the Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, Dead, and Others (ASDDO) list. This comparative exercise aims to detect any discrepancies between the two documents and ensure the accuracy of voter registrations at the polling station level.

The initiative reflects growing concern among civic groups about the integrity of electoral rolls in the region. By conducting a transparent, community-led review of the rolls, the organizations seek to identify potential errors or irregularities in voter deletion processes and ensure eligible citizens are not wrongfully struck off the register.

Such social audits have become increasingly common in Indian elections as a mechanism for civil society to monitor the quality of electoral preparations and flag issues for corrective action by electoral authorities. The Kodagu exercise represents a similar effort to strengthen electoral transparency and accountability in the district.