ECI Clears Form 6 Confusion for Voters Missing From Draft Rolls

Access to the electoral roll remains essential for every eligible citizen, especially during large-scale voter verification exercises.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has now clarified the process for people whose names have disappeared from draft electoral rolls under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The Commission has allowed previously registered voters to submit Form 6 to secure fresh inclusion in the final electoral rolls.

This clarification addresses confusion among electors who feared legal consequences for applying as new voters despite their earlier registration.

The issue gained attention after the Supreme Court raised concerns over nearly 43 lakh Delhi residents whose names were deleted.

Many were reportedly marked as absent, shifted or untraceable during field verification. Consequently, several affected voters hesitated to apply through Form 6.

Their concern stemmed from a declaration in the form stating that their names were being included in the electoral roll for the first time.

They feared that repeating this declaration could amount to a false statement. They also worried about possible prosecution under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

However, the ECI has dismissed these concerns. In a communication to state Chief Electoral Officers, it clarified that earlier enrolment does not prevent affected voters from filing Form 6.

The Commission also cited a Delhi High Court judgment dated October 14 to support its position.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had suggested a different approach. It urged the poll panel to consider Form 8, which facilitates corrections and address-related changes.

This would help restore eligible voters without treating them as first-time applicants.

However, implementation remains uncertain. The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s office has confirmed that it has not received formal instructions or a standard operating procedure for using Form 8 for voters classified under ASDD categories: Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate.

Additionally, activists Anjali Bhardwaj and Amrita Johri have approached the ECI and Delhi CEO, demanding immediate implementation of the court’s directions.

The latest clarification removes one major obstacle for affected electors.

Nevertheless, a clear restoration mechanism remains necessary to protect genuine voters and prevent eligible citizens from losing their voting rights.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image published on February 18, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/747227