Karnataka poll row: Death certs allegedly misused to strike voters

Eight residents in Karnataka have lodged complaints with the District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, claiming that objectors sought to remove their names from the voter list by submitting death certificates of individuals with similar names. The matter raises concerns about the integrity of electoral registration processes and the potential for misuse of official documentation to suppress voter participation.

According to the complaints, the third-party objectors submitted petitions requesting deletion of the voters' names on grounds of death, despite the individuals being very much alive. The use of death certificates belonging to different persons with comparable names suggests a deliberate strategy to exploit similarities in voter registration records.

Election officials have been approached to investigate the veracity of the objections filed against these eight voters. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in the voter verification process and raises questions about the scrutiny applied to objection applications submitted during electoral rolls revision.

The Karnataka Election Commission is expected to examine the allegations and determine whether systematic attempts were made to disenfranchise legitimate voters through fraudulent objections. Such practices, if substantiated, could constitute electoral violations and may warrant action against those responsible for filing false objections.