ECI splits online voter registration form and declaration in states undergoing roll update

What Happened

The Election Commission of India has separated the online Form 6 and its accompanying SIR declaration in states where the supplementary electoral‑roll (SIR) exercise is in progress. Earlier in September the commission removed the declaration from digital platforms in states where the SIR had already been completed. Form 6 registers new voters; after the SIR in Bihar a separate declaration was added to the physical form, but the digital version kept them together.

Reaction

The ECI said a single OTP and e‑Sign for both documents had created doubts that the form was altered without the Union Law Ministry’s approval. Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised the issue in dissent notes. A senior ECI official explained that applicants now must verify each part with its own OTP and e‑Sign. The commission’s counter‑affidavit filed last week cited an Oct 21 decision that online applications must be divided into two distinct parts: Form 6 as per the Rules and the SIR declaration.

Context

The change aims to mirror the physical process and avoid procedural confusion. The ECI also clarified that voters who appear on an older roll and submit Form 6 during or after the SIR will not face penalties, provided they are not already enrolled in another parliamentary or assembly constituency.