Voter Tracing Challenges Intensify in Telangana's Pre-Election Process
Officials across multiple districts in Telangana are encountering substantial obstacles during the pre-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, with permanent migration, voter reluctance to share information, and out-of-state voters emerging as primary concerns. The struggle to accurately trace and map voters has become particularly pronounced in urban centers and district headquarters throughout the state.
Urban-Rural Disparity in Mapping Progress
Mapping efforts in urban areas are progressing at a significantly slower pace compared to their rural counterparts. A striking example comes from Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, where rural areas have achieved mapping rates exceeding 85%, while Bhupalpally town itself stands at a mere 24% completion. Similarly, in the Parkal constituency under Hanumakonda district, Geesugonda has reached 64.34% mapping, contrasting sharply with the nearly 90% completion in Nadikuda.
"Tracing voters is turning into a major headache," stated Porika Harikrishna, electoral registration officer (ERO) for Jayashankar Bhupalpally. "We fear about 10,000 votes could be lost due to permanent migration." He elaborated that of the total 55,408 votes registered in Bhupalpally town, only approximately 24% had been successfully mapped since November.
Population Growth and Administrative Changes
Harikrishna highlighted how administrative evolution has complicated voter tracing efforts. "Back in 2002, the area was under a gram panchayat with a small population," he explained. "Now the situation is different. It has become a district headquarters, and the population has increased manyfold. Tracing voters has therefore become a challenge."
One polling station within his constituency illustrates this difficulty vividly. Originally listing 9,000 voters, officials now find it increasingly difficult to locate many of these individuals due to demographic shifts and residential changes over the past two decades.
Widespread Problem Across Multiple Districts
Similar challenges have been reported across several other Telangana districts, including:
- Warangal
- Hanumakonda
- Karimnagar
- Khammam
- Greater Hyderabad regions encompassing Medchal Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy, and Hyderabad districts
Voter Reluctance and Information Withholding
K Narayana, ERO of Parkal constituency, identified another critical issue: "At the ground level, we have noticed that many voters are unwilling to share basic information that would help us trace their details in the 2002 voter list." He emphasized that even when voters cannot recall their previous voting locations, providing details about their native places would significantly assist the tracing process.
Narayana further explained that progress is being hampered by permanent migration patterns, with residents relocating to Hyderabad, other major Indian cities, or even abroad. "During the preparatory round, we are also sanitising the voters' list by removing deceased and duplicate entries," he added, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the electoral list verification process.
Implications for Electoral Integrity
The combined factors of migration, urban population growth, and voter information gaps present substantial challenges for electoral officials tasked with maintaining accurate voter rolls. The disparity between urban and rural mapping rates suggests that metropolitan areas may require additional resources and innovative approaches to ensure comprehensive voter registration ahead of upcoming elections.
As Telangana continues its pre-SIR process, electoral authorities face the dual challenge of adapting to demographic transformations while ensuring that legitimate voters remain properly registered within the system. The success of these efforts will directly impact electoral participation and representation across the state's diverse urban and rural landscapes.
