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Over 6.5 lakh voters excluded from Belagavi electoral rolls

Karnataka's largest electoral district faces a significant voter registration gap, with over 650,000 eligible citizens reportedly left off the voter rolls. The excluded voters include more than 103,000 Muslims among other communities.

LSN India · 30 October 2026

Over 6.5 lakh voters excluded from Belagavi electoral rolls

Belagavi, which serves as Karnataka's most expansive electoral district, is grappling with a substantial voter registration shortfall ahead of upcoming polls. Electoral officials have identified over 6.5 lakh individuals who appear to meet eligibility criteria but remain absent from the official voter rolls.

The exclusion affects citizens across multiple communities, with data indicating that approximately 1.03 lakh Muslim voters are among those not registered. Election authorities have not yet provided a comprehensive breakdown of other demographic categories affected by the registration gap.

The situation raises concerns about electoral representation and participation in one of the state's key constituencies. Political observers note that such large-scale omissions from voter registers can significantly impact election outcomes and the legitimacy of electoral processes.

The district administration has indicated that efforts are underway to identify the reasons behind the widespread exclusions and to rectify the voter rolls before the next electoral exercise. Officials are conducting verification processes to determine whether the identified individuals meet constitutional requirements for voting eligibility.