Bengaluru cyber centres charge voters up to Rs 150 to fill SIR forms

Cyber and internet centres in Bengaluru's Rajajinagar and Peenya Industrial Area are charging citizens to help them fill out Special Intensive Revision (SIR) enumeration forms and locate their 2002 election roll details. The trend has emerged during the ongoing SIR exercise as local voters face difficulties obtaining assistance from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

Private operators are charging citizens between Rs 80 and Rs 150 per application to navigate the process. Factory workers and other local residents have reported turning to these cyber cafes due to a lack of support and communication from election staff, who are reportedly struggling to clarify doubts or locate historical voting records.

Pradeep Kumar, a factory worker, said he had to visit a nearby cyber cafe after the BLO of his area was unable to help him understand the forms. "I tried to understand how to fill the SIR forms. I used the help of online translate also. I went to the nearest cyber cafe, and saw a long queue of people like me. The operator was able to find my 2002 SIR details and helped me fill my form," Kumar said.

Another factory worker, Vibha, shared a similar experience, noting that she and her colleagues paid an operator Rs 80 per form because the BLO did not have the time to explain the process.

Subbanna, a staff member at a cyber centre in Rajajinagar, explained that his daily routine has shifted from handling RTO and educational institution tasks to assisting voters. "Most people approaching us are searching for their 2002 voting details," Subbanna said, adding that they charge for the service but cannot guarantee details will be found due to past spelling errors or forgotten polling booth details.

In the Peenya Industrial Area, cyber operator Naveenappa reported a high volume of labourers and staffers seeking assistance. Naveenappa said he watched videos on multiple social media platforms to understand the tracking and filing process, setting a limit of 20 to 30 minutes per person to manage the large crowds.

According to official data, 52,08,596 enumeration forms have been distributed in Bengaluru Urban and Rural, but only 2,02,930 forms have been digitized so far. Across Karnataka, 4,27,82,130 forms have been distributed, representing 77.18 percent of the state's 5,54,32,314 total electors as of June 16, 2026.