Maharashtra’s chief electoral officer has proposed changes to Form 6 to help eligible voters whose names were removed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) apply for inclusion in the electoral roll again.
The proposal was sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI) last week. It seeks to resolve confusion caused by the current Form 6 declaration, under which applicants are required to state that they are seeking inclusion in the electoral roll for the first time.
Although Form 6 is ordinarily used by people registering as voters for the first time, the ECI has instructed individuals excluded from the rolls during the SIR exercise to use the same form to seek re-inclusion.
This has raised concerns among people who were previously registered voters. Some may hesitate to submit the form because they fear that declaring themselves first-time applicants could be treated as a false statement.
Knowingly submitting a false declaration in connection with electoral rolls is an offence under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. It can attract imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both.
Election officials have also encountered difficulties in encouraging previously registered voters to submit applications because of the wording of the existing declaration.
Three changes proposed
The Maharashtra chief electoral officer has suggested three modifications to Form 6. These include removing the words “New Voters” from the form’s title, adding a separate declaration for applicants who were earlier registered in an assembly constituency but are no longer enrolled anywhere, and permitting applicants to mention their previous Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number.
The earlier EPIC number would help officials trace an applicant’s past voter registration and distinguish re-inclusion cases from fresh registrations.
The proposal is intended to separate first-time applications from requests submitted by eligible voters whose names were removed during the revision process. However, the changes have not yet been approved and do not currently represent a confirmed amendment to Form 6.
The issue has emerged while the SIR process is under way in Maharashtra. The claims-and-objections period is scheduled to end on October 26, and publication of the final electoral roll is scheduled for November 16.
If approved, the proposed changes could provide a clearer route for eligible voters seeking to return to the electoral roll. Their implementation will depend on the required legal and administrative approvals.
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