Form 6 Explained: The Voter Enrolment Form, SIR Clause And EC’s Latest Move

The Voter Enrolment Form, known as Form 6, is a crucial document used by eligible Indian citizens to register their names as voters in the electoral roll. This form is submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) as part of the voter registration process. It is primarily used by individuals who have reached the legal age for voter registration and reside in the constituency where they wish to be enrolled.

The form requires applicants to provide personal details such as their name, date of birth, address, and other necessary information for verification purposes. The SIR clause, a supplementary declaration, was sometimes included with Form 6 during the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. However, there has been a recent change in this practice.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi expressed concerns about the inclusion of the SIR declaration in Form 6. They argued that Form 6 is a legally established form under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and altering it would require modifications to the Rules themselves. They feared that making changes to the form without proper legal procedures would undermine the integrity of the electoral process.

Following the concerns raised by the election commissioners, the Election Commission has withdrawn the additional SIR-related declaration from Form 6 in states where the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has been completed. This decision aims to ensure that the voter enrollment process remains consistent with the established legal framework.