Amid bulk filing, ECI sets limit on Form 7 submissions
Applications during claims and objections that an individual elector can file are capped at 10, while those during continuous updation of rolls by a voter have been fixed at five per month
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced new limits on the number of Form 7 submissions voters can make during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in various states. As per the directive, an individual elector is allowed to file a maximum of 10 Form 7 applications during the entire period of claims and objections, and 5 per month during the continuous updation of electoral rolls. Prior to this announcement, there was no limit on the number of physical Form 7s a voter could file.
The decision comes after reports from Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Karnataka highlighted the submission of bulk Form 7s allegedly in the name of BJP leaders during the SIR period. The Commission had previously permitted booth-level agents (BLAs) of recognized political parties to file applications in bulk, with a daily limit of 50 forms before the draft publication of electoral rolls, and 10 forms per day thereafter.
The ECI's directive aims to discourage bulk filing of objections by individual voters, as such submissions can create challenges for field functionaries and inconvenience the elector at the center of the objection. According to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, claims or objections not filed within the stipulated period or in the specified format will be rejected by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
The ERO is also required to verify the genuineness of the applicant by cross-checking the details with the electoral list. If the complaint is found to be false or fabricated, the ERO will take action against the applicant.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
