SIR likely to have triggered spurt in polling percentage in Kerala

KOCHI: The special intensive revision (SIR), which was aimed at ensuring a fair voters' list, seems to be one of the major reasons for the increase in the voter turnout compared to the previous election. With the exclusion of the names of those who died or migrated to other places, the remaining voters voted in this election.In 2021, the average poll percentage in the state was 76.7. This time, the polling touched 77.3% by around 7pm. "There are chances that the SIR helped increase the polling percentage. There may be an increase of around 2-3% due to the changes in the voters' list. In the past, when names of all those who are ineligible or died were retained, the voter turnout would normally be less. When such names are omitted, the polling percentage would automatically go up," said D Dhanuraj, chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). "We can say that there is a wave only if the voter turnout goes beyond 80%," he added. Moreover, most people who figure in the voters' list will cast their franchise as many think that exercising their franchise is necessary to retain their names in the voters' list. "Several Keralites from Delhi came back home on Wednesday only to cast their votes. Many think that if they don't cast their votes even after the Election Commission brings out a revised voters list following the SIR, their names may be deleted in the future. This has forced a section of voters, who otherwise choose to stay away from voting if there are any inconveniences, to turn up and vote. This also will help increase the poll percentage," Dhanuraj said. However, political leaderships have come up with their own versions for the rise in the poll percentage. The UDF hopes that the surge in polling percentage could be a sign of the front's victory. Going by the general perception, a rise in the polling percentage is considered advantageous to UDF. The earlier public perception was that those who are hesitant to cast their votes at first and exercise their franchise at the last minute belong to the UDF. However, LDF leaders say that the rise in the percentage this time is due to the changes in the SIR.