📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Kartik chauhandehra
Politics
Karnataka's third‑gender voter list shrinks by 43%
✍️ Mangalore Today
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 03:41 AM
👁 2
The Election Commission reports a 43% drop in the number of third‑gender voters registered in Karnataka, sparking concerns over electoral inclusion.
The Election Commission of India has disclosed that the count of third‑gender voters on Karnataka's electoral rolls fell by 43% compared with the previous registration cycle. The sharp decline was identified during the latest audit of the state's voter database, which is updated ahead of upcoming elections.
Officials said the reduction reflects a combination of deletions due to outdated entries, migration, and possibly errors in data verification. No specific reason has been officially attributed to the drop, and the commission has not released exact figures for the total number of third‑gender voters before and after the change.
The development has drawn attention from civil‑society groups that advocate for transgender rights, who warn that such a decrease could hinder political participation of the community. They have urged the commission to review the process and ensure that eligible third‑gender citizens are not inadvertently removed from the rolls.
The commission has indicated that it will conduct a focused verification drive to address any discrepancies before the state polls, aiming to restore confidence among all voter segments.
Officials said the reduction reflects a combination of deletions due to outdated entries, migration, and possibly errors in data verification. No specific reason has been officially attributed to the drop, and the commission has not released exact figures for the total number of third‑gender voters before and after the change.
The development has drawn attention from civil‑society groups that advocate for transgender rights, who warn that such a decrease could hinder political participation of the community. They have urged the commission to review the process and ensure that eligible third‑gender citizens are not inadvertently removed from the rolls.
The commission has indicated that it will conduct a focused verification drive to address any discrepancies before the state polls, aiming to restore confidence among all voter segments.