The Election Commission (EC) has introduced a new declaration in the online version of Form 6, the application used for fresh voter registration, requiring applicants to disclose whether they or their parents were included in the last Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The change has drawn attention because the declaration appears only on the Election Commission’s ECINET portal and is not part of the statutory Form 6 available for offline submissions, according to a report.
The newly introduced declaration asks applicants to choose from three options regarding their electoral history and that of their family members.
Applicants must declare whether their own name existed in the electoral roll prepared during the last SIR, whether the name of a parent or grandparent was included in that roll, or whether neither they nor their parents or grandparents were listed.
Those selecting either of the first two options are required to provide details such as the Assembly constituency, polling booth number and serial number from the electoral roll of the previous SIR exercise.
According to the report, applicants who are unable to provide these details can proceed only by selecting the third option.
Although the declaration is not explicitly described as mandatory, users reportedly cannot complete and submit the online application without filling this section.
The portal does not specify the consequences or implications of selecting the option stating that neither the applicant nor their parents or grandparents were included in the previous SIR.
The declaration has reportedly been made available across states and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Revision has either been completed during 2025-26 or is currently underway. Bihar and Assam are exceptions, with Bihar having initiated the exercise earlier and Assam not undertaking an SIR process.
The development has raised questions because Form 6 derives its legal basis from the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, framed under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
According to the report, there is no indication in official gazette notifications issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice since June last year that Form 6 has been formally amended to include the new declaration.
Former Election Commission officials cited in the report said even minor modifications to a statutory form generally require amendments to the relevant rules and notification through the Law Ministry.
The issue assumes significance amid the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise, which has led to the deletion of more than 5.58 crore names from electoral rolls across 10 states and three Union Territories since last year, according to the report.
Concerns have also been raised about whether such deletions could affect future voter registrations by family members seeking enrolment through Form 6.
In West Bengal alone, more than 27 lakh names were reportedly removed from electoral rolls during the revision process, while appeals against some of these deletions remain pending before tribunals.
Form 6 is used by citizens seeking enrolment in the electoral roll after attaining the age of 18, acquiring Indian citizenship or reapplying following deletion from the voter list.
Under the existing statutory format, applicants are already required to provide information about family members residing with them, including their names and Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) details.
The Election Commission has not yet issued an official statement explaining the rationale behind the addition of the new declaration or clarifying whether formal amendments to the statutory form are under consideration.
