Politics
Election Commission: Voters Dropped From SIR Draft Rolls Can File Form 6 Safely
The poll body has told states that people missing from the draft list will not face prosecution for the form's 'first-time enrolment' declaration.
Desh Flash desk7 November 2026, 6:35 am IST2 minUpdated 7 November 2026, 6:35 am IST
The Election Commission of India has moved to calm a worry among voters left off the draft electoral rolls in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR): filing Form 6 to get back on the list will not, by itself, count as a false declaration. The clarification was issued on Tuesday in a letter to chief electoral officers of all states.
The confusion stems from the form's wording. Form 6 carries a declaration that the applicant has never been enrolled as a voter before. Some people deleted from the draft roll, who had been registered earlier, feared that signing it could expose them to action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which deals with false declarations.
The Commission said it had been told that this fear was making some eligible citizens hesitate. It said voters missing from the draft SIR rolls can apply through Form 6 for inclusion in the final list even if they were enrolled before. It added that an Electoral Registration Officer cannot start Section 31 proceedings only because someone on an earlier roll files Form 6 during or after the SIR.
The ECI pointed to the Delhi High Court's October 14 judgment, which, in its reading, shows the apprehension of a false declaration is misplaced. The source report notes the clarification applies when certain conditions are met, so applicants should still follow the guidance issued by their local election officials.
Why it matters: in a revision exercise of this scale, the draft roll is a starting point, and the final list decides who can vote. Removing the fear of legal trouble should help genuine voters step forward before the deadline and cut the risk of people being left out through paperwork anxiety. For the many workers, migrants and families whose records shift between constituencies, it is a welcome piece of clarity.
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