Maharashtra Election Commission Clarifies Voters Missing From Draft Electoral Rolls Can Reapply Through Form 6 Without Penalty

Pune, November 4 - Voters whose names were listed in earlier electoral rolls but have been omitted from the draft electoral roll released during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process can reapply for inclusion through Form 6 without facing any legal repercussions, the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office has confirmed in a recent press release.

The state government's clarification of this matter follows concerns among eligible voters who feared potential penalties for submitting false declarations when applying for re-inclusion in the electoral rolls.

According to the Election Commission of India's recent clarification, the absence of a name from the draft electoral roll does not impede an individual's ability to reapply for inclusion via Form 6, even if their name appeared in a previous electoral roll. The confusion arose as some voters were reluctant to submit fresh applications due to apprehensions that doing so might result in penalties for providing incorrect information.

The state CEO's office emphasized that the declaration required under Form 6 has been valid since August 1, 2022, and merely declaring that one's name is not currently on the electoral rolls does not constitute a false statement. Consequently, no action will be taken against applicants under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, based on this declaration.

This clarification aims to reassure voters who might have been hesitant to reapply for inclusion in the electoral rolls, thereby promoting participation in the democratic process.