The Election Commission has started a special voter enrolment campaign in the 20 states and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been completed.
The exercise follows protests and political concerns over the deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls during the revision process. The Commission has instructed chief electoral officers, district election officers and electoral registration officers to assist eligible people whose names were not included, including those listed under the ASDD category—Absent, Shifted, Dead or Deleted.
In these 20 states and UTs, applicants do not need to submit the additional declaration that was required with Form 6 during SIR. The Commission has clarified that the declaration applies only in states and UTs where SIR is under way. During the non-SIR period, applicants must use the standard forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Eligible people seeking inclusion in areas where SIR has already concluded can therefore file the ordinary Form 6. The fresh enrolment initiative is being implemented through the continuous-updation process, while the additional declaration remains linked specifically to SIR.
States begin implementing enrolment instructions
State election authorities have started acting on the Commission's directions. In Goa, booth-level officers have been asked to visit the homes of voters left out of the electoral rolls and collect their applications. Of the 97 voters identified in the state, 81 have already submitted Form 6 applications for inclusion.
In West Bengal, the Chief Electoral Officer's office has made the ASDD list available on its website and on the websites of the state's district election officers. Eligible voters whose names are missing can submit Form 6 online or apply through their Booth Level Officer.
The West Bengal CEO's office has said that any eligible voter omitted from the roll may file Form 6 online or contact the Booth Level Officer to seek inclusion.
Former CEC questions use of Form 6 for deleted voters
Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi said Form 6 is intended for new or first-time voters. The form contains a declaration that the applicant has not previously been a voter, and, in his view, it is not designed for restoring the names of people deleted from the rolls.
Quraishi said a separate form could be created by the Law Ministry if the intention is to add back voters whose names were wrongly removed. He added that using Form 6 for such applicants could be illegal because the form requires them to declare that they have never been voters, even when that statement may not be true.
The issue has become particularly contentious in West Bengal, where the revision of electoral rolls and deletion of names have emerged as major political concerns. Opposition parties and other groups have alleged that eligible voters were excluded, while the Election Commission has provided a new avenue for eligible electors to seek inclusion after SIR has ended.
The campaign is being conducted as INDIA bloc parties continue protests in the national capital over SIR and the functioning of the Election Commission. The parties are seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, restoration of deleted voters' names and greater transparency in the preparation and revision of electoral rolls.
The Commission has said that SIR has been completed in 20 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. The final number of electors in the remaining 12 states and UTs covered under Phase III will be known only after the final publication of the electoral rolls.
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