EC Defends Form 6 for Deleted Voters Amid SC Scrutiny

The Cliff News | 4 November 2026

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reiterated its position on the use of Form 6 for the re-enrolment of voters whose names were deleted from electoral rolls. This clarification comes amidst scrutiny from the Supreme Court, which recently termed the practice a "structural incongruity". The poll panel's stance aims to assure electors that submitting Form 6 is a standard procedure, not an attempt to make a false declaration.

In a directive issued to chief electoral officers on Tuesday, the ECI acknowledged that some individuals hesitate to use Form 6 when their names are missing from draft rolls. This hesitation stems from the form's requirement for a declaration stating that the inclusion is sought for the first time, leading to fears of submitting a false declaration if they were previously enrolled.

Clarification on Form 6 Declarations

The ECI clarified that the declaration requirement within Form 6 has been in effect since August 1, 2022. According to the commission, any elector whose name is not present in the draft electoral roll must apply for inclusion afresh, regardless of their previous enrolment status. The submission of Form 6 in such scenarios is purely for the purpose of inclusion in the current electoral roll revision process.

Therefore, the poll panel stated, the act of submitting Form 6 is not inherently false simply because an elector was enrolled previously. The process is designed to ensure all eligible citizens are correctly registered in the updated rolls.

Legal Basis for Form 6 Usage

To support its position, the Election Commission cited a recent order from the Delhi High Court. The High Court had previously held that the apprehension of making a false declaration in such cases was misplaced. This judicial backing reinforces the ECI's interpretation of the existing electoral rules.

The use of Form 6 for claims of inclusion in electoral rolls is mandated by Rule 13(1) of The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. This rule stipulates that every claim for inclusion must be submitted using this specific form, signed by the applicant.

Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls

Furthermore, the ECI referenced Rule 25(2) of The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. This rule pertains to the intensive revision of electoral rolls. It states that when an intensive revision is undertaken in any year, the rolls are prepared afresh, and Rules 4 to 23 apply to this revision as they would to the initial preparation of a roll.

This framework ensures that during intensive revision periods, all applications for inclusion are treated as new claims, simplifying the process for both electors and electoral machinery, even for those who were previously registered.