ECI changes SIR declaration in finalised states
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced an important change in the voter registration process following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in several states and Union Territories. The additional declaration linked to SIR will no longer be required with Form 6 in places where the electoral-roll revision exercise has already been completed.
The change is aimed at aligning the voter-registration process with the stage of the SIR exercise in each state. According to reports, new voters in states where the revision has been completed will only need to submit the statutory Form 6 for inclusion in the electoral roll.
What Has the Election Commission Changed?
Form 6 is the prescribed application used by eligible citizens to request inclusion of their names in the electoral roll. During the SIR exercise, an additional declaration was attached to the online application process.
The ECI has now withdrawn this additional SIR-linked declaration in states and Union Territories where the revision process has been completed. This means applicants in those areas will not have to complete the extra declaration while submitting Form 6.
However, the change does not apply uniformly across the country. In states where SIR is still underway, new applicants will continue to follow the additional declaration requirement applicable during the revision process.
Why Is the Change Important?
The latest decision separates the voter-registration process from the additional requirements associated specifically with the SIR exercise.
Once the electoral-roll revision has been finalised in a particular state or Union Territory, the regular statutory process for enrolling new voters becomes applicable. This can make the registration process more straightforward for citizens who become eligible to register after the completion of SIR.
The ECI's decision follows its earlier clarification that the additional declaration was intended to operate during the SIR period, while the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 would apply outside that exercise.
What Should New Voters Do?
Citizens who have become eligible to register should continue using the official voter-registration process and submit Form 6 as required.
Applicants should also check the status of SIR in their respective state or Union Territory because requirements can differ depending on whether the revision has been completed.
For states where SIR is still ongoing, applicants may continue to encounter the additional declaration alongside Form 6. Karnataka, for example, is among the states where the additional declaration remains applicable while the SIR process continues.
SIR and Electoral Roll Updates
The Special Intensive Revision is intended to update electoral rolls and verify voter information. The ECI has been implementing the exercise in phases across different states and Union Territories, with schedules varying according to the respective electoral-roll revision timetable. Official ECI documents list different dates for draft rolls, claims and objections, and final publication across participating regions.
The latest Form 6 change therefore reflects the different stages of the SIR process across the country.
Conclusion
The ECI's decision to remove the additional SIR declaration from Form 6 in finalised states marks a change in the voter-registration procedure after completion of the electoral-roll revision exercise. While applicants in completed states and Union Territories can follow the regular Form 6 process, those in areas where SIR remains underway may still need to complete the additional declaration.
Voters should check the latest instructions applicable to their state before submitting an application to ensure that their registration
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