ECI removes additional SIR declaration from Form 6

Spread the news

New Delhi, September 30

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday withdrawn the additional declaration linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) from Form 6, clarifying that the voter registration form itself has not been changed.

The ECI said the additional declaration would no longer be required in states and Union territories where the SIR exercise has been completed, as well as in those where it has yet to begin.

The decision comes days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a period of 10 months.

According to the report, the officials had flagged issues relating to electoral-roll revision, the addition, deletion and restoration of voters, changes concerning Form 6 for new voters, and access to electoral-roll databases.

In a statement, the ECI said Form 6 had remained unchanged during both SIR and non-SIR periods. The declaration was an additional document introduced in states and Union territories where SIR was being conducted under the Commission’s order of 24 June 2025 and subsequent SIR orders.

The Commission said the decisions relating to the additional declaration had been taken unanimously.

Previously at a full Commission meeting on September 26, the ECI announced several measures concerning SIR, voter registration and its IT systems.For voters who have received notices because their records are unmapped or contain logical discrepancies, Booth Level Officers will visit their homes to collect documents and upload them on ECINET for consideration by the Electoral Registration Officer.

Such voters will not normally have to appear before the ERO or AERO.

Hearings will be held only in exceptional cases and, preferably, online. An adult family member can also be authorised by an elector to attend a hearing on their behalf.

The Commission said online hearing facilities would be strengthened.

The District Election Officers have been asked to set up help desks and hold special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor people, homeless people and others who may need assistance.

The Commission had earlier said that the SIR-related declaration attached to Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court. It has now clarified that the additional declaration will not be required in states and Union territories where SIR has been completed or is yet to begin.

For non-SIR periods, the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, will apply.

EC to review ECINET

The Commission said field officers have role-based access to ECINET according to their statutory powers.

A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT will review the system to check its compliance with electoral laws and rules.The ECI said several upgrades had already been made to the portal following feedback from state Chief Electoral Officers.
It also said future initiatives involving IT modules and portals would first be discussed by a Committee of Officers before being placed before the Commission.

Deadlines extended

The deadline for filing claims and objections in Delhi has been extended to 30 October 2026, while their disposal has been extended to 30 November 2026.

In Maharashtra, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to 12 October 2026 and their disposal to 10 November 2026.

The Commission said its letter to the Cabinet Secretary was not related to any policy decision concerning the ECI or its IT division. It said the letter concerned the functioning of an officer on deputation to the Commission.

The ECI also said work redistribution orders issued by the officer were not implemented following objections from the two commissioners. It also said oversight of the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never withdrawn. The Commission maintained that major SIR decisions had received the unanimous approval of the full Commission.

Voters can still seek inclusion

The ECI said SIR has been completed in 20 states and Union territories, including Bihar and West Bengal.

People whose names were left out during or after SIR, including young and first-time voters, can apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion through continuous updating of electoral rolls.

CEOs, DEOs and EROs have been directed to conduct special enrolment drives.

In Goa, the Commission said BLOs had been directed to visit voters left out of the rolls and collect their forms. It said 81 of 97 voters had already submitted Form 6 for inclusion.

The Commission also directed that agendas for its meetings be circulated in advance and minutes issued. It said officers’ Annual Performance Appraisal Reports should be completed by 31 December each year and that Commission approval would be required for foreign trips by officers.

The latest clarification puts the focus on the distinction between Form 6 itself and the additional SIR declaration. The ECI says the statutory Form 6 has not been changed, while the additional declaration will no longer be required in states and Union territories where SIR has been completed or is yet to start.