The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed the additional declaration linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) from the online Form 6 in states and Union Territories where the SIR exercise has been completed.
This means that people applying for fresh voter registration in these areas will now need to submit only the regular Form 6 used for inclusion of names in the electoral rolls.
What is Form 6?
Form 6 is the official application form used by eligible citizens to apply for inclusion of their names in the electoral roll as new voters.
During the SIR exercise, an additional declaration was attached to Form 6. Applicants were required to provide information connecting themselves, or their parents or grandparents, with entries in earlier electoral rolls.
What has changed?
The ECI has removed this additional SIR declaration from its online system in areas where the SIR process has already been completed.
- SIR completed: Only the regular Form 6 is required.
- SIR ongoing: The additional SIR declaration continues to apply.
- Non-SIR areas: The normal statutory electoral forms continue to be used.
Important clarification
- The Election Commission has not cancelled or abolished Form 6.
- The change concerns the additional declaration attached to Form 6 specifically for the SIR exercise. The regular statutory Form 6 continues to be used for new voter registration.
- The ECI has also stated that, during the non-SIR period, the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 will be used.
Why was the additional declaration discussed?
- The additional SIR declaration became a subject of legal and administrative debate because applicants were asked to provide information relating to earlier electoral rolls.
- There has also been discussion over the exact scope of the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment concerning SIR and whether it specifically approved the present version of the additional declaration. This legal issue should be distinguished from the ECI’s administrative decision to use or remove the declaration depending on the status of SIR.
What does this mean for new voters?
- For people applying for voter registration in areas where SIR has been completed, the application process is now simpler because the additional SIR declaration is no longer required.
- However, in areas where SIR is still underway, the additional declaration may continue to be part of the process.
In Simple Words
- Form 6 has not been removed.
- The Election Commission has removed only the extra SIR declaration attached to Form 6 in areas where the SIR process has been completed.
- The regular Form 6 for new voter registration continues.
