Election Commission separates digital Form 6 and declaration for SIR States

UPDATE - follow-up to ECI separates online Form 6, accompanying declaration for States undergoing SIR: The Election Commission of India has split Form 6 and its accompanying declaration into two separate online parts for States undergoing the SIR exercise. Previously, applicants submitted both documents together using a single OTP and e-Sign for operational ease. Under the revised process, each document requires separate verification.

Official Stance and Context

The ECI previously defended the single OTP setup by stating it was meant to help applicants. However, this digital merger drew dissent notes from two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, who noted concerns that the form had been changed without approval from the Union Law Ministry. In a recent court counter affidavit, the ECI stated that online applications will now mirror physical submissions by dividing them into Form 6 as prescribed by rules and the SIR Declaration. Furthermore, the commission clarified that no action will be taken against voters just because they are on a previous electoral roll and submitted Form 6 during or after SIR, as long as they are not enrolled in any other constituency. Earlier in September, the ECI removed the declaration from digital platforms in States where SIR was already finished.

Context

Form 6 is the standard document used by citizens to register as fresh voters in India. The Election Commission routinely updates its digital and physical processes to ensure compliance with electoral laws and rules. Changes to these registration documents often involve careful coordination between digital platforms and legal guidelines.