In a significant relief to voters whose names were removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that they can apply for re-enrolment through Form 6 without facing legal action for declaring themselves first-time applicants.Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer Navdeep Rinwa said the Commission has issued instructions addressing concerns among previously registered voters whose names are missing from the current electoral rolls.Form 6 requires applicants to declare that they are seeking inclusion in the electoral roll for the first time. This had raised fears among previously enrolled voters that submitting the form could expose them to prosecution for making a false declaration.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
The Commission clarified that such applicants would not face action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, merely because they were previously registered.However, the exemption applies only if the applicant is not already enrolled in another assembly constituency and all other declarations in Form 6 comply with the law.Rinwa said all district election officers have been directed to communicate the instructions to electoral registration officers, assistant electoral registration officers and other officials.He urged eligible voters to check their names in the current electoral rolls and submit Form 6 if their names are missing.