Election Commission Assures Voters on Form 6 Submissions Amid Concerns
Clarification from the Election Commission
A file image of Election Commission of India (Photo:X)
New Delhi, Nov 15: The Election Commission (EC) has informed the Supreme Court that voters whose names are absent from the draft electoral rolls, despite prior enrollment, can reapply using Form 6 without the risk of facing legal action.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, the electoral body stated that Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) have been instructed to widely disseminate this clarification, including in regional languages.
The Commission acknowledged concerns raised by individuals whose names were missing from the draft electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
These individuals feared that submitting Form 6 might lead to prosecution under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, even though they had been previously registered.
To alleviate these concerns, the Commission clarified that no legal action would be taken against anyone for submitting Form 6 solely because their name was not included in the draft electoral roll during the SIR, provided they are not registered in any other Parliamentary or Assembly Constituency and their declaration complies with legal requirements.
The electoral body also noted the Supreme Court's recommendation to engage with voters categorized as ASDD (Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate) to facilitate their inclusion in the electoral rolls.
In response, the Commission has implemented additional measures to assist voters. It has issued directives on November 6, 2026, to the Chief Electoral Officers in states and Union Territories where the SIR is currently taking place.
CEOs have been instructed to permit voters to submit completed Enumeration Forms (Annexure A) to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), or Booth Level Officer (BLO) at their current residence.
Voters who have not changed their residence can submit the signed Enumeration Form (Annexure A) along with an Annexure-B statement explaining the reasons for the previous non-submission. This can be done in person or through family members, and an online submission option with e-signature will be available on ECINET.
The Commission has also mandated the establishment of a mechanism to ensure that no eligible elector is denied the chance to have their name included in the final electoral roll, while also preventing duplicate registrations.
“The Commission is dedicated to upholding the integrity of the electoral process. We face challenges due to the large number of voters and the digitalization of data,” it stated.
Previously, the EC robustly defended its Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in front of the Supreme Court, asserting that the process was legally sanctioned and unanimously approved by all three Commission members.
In response to allegations regarding amendments to Form 6, the Commission clarified that no changes had been made to the statutory Form 6 used for voter registration.