EC separates voter inclusion form and declaration in online version

New Delhi: Following up on its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Election Commission has now separated the new voter enrolment form and the accompanying declaration in its online process in states where the SIR exercise is currently underway. In September, the Commission had already removed the declaration from its digital platforms in states where the special intensive revision of the voters’ list had been completed. Form 6 is used by those applying for inclusion in the voters’ list.

Since the Bihar SIR, the poll body has also added a declaration form seeking details of the SIR status of the parents of those submitting Form 6. In the offline or physical mode, citizens are required to submit the two documents separately. However, in the online version, the use of a single OTP for both documents had raised concerns that the EC had modified Form 6 without approval from the Union law ministry.

On Wednesday, EC officials said the submission process for the prescribed statutory Form 6 and the declaration used under the earlier system has now been revised. “Previously, Form 6 and the accompanying declaration were submitted together using a single OTP and e-Sign for the operational convenience of applicants. Under the revised process, each must be submitted separately, requiring a separate OTP verification and e-Sign.

Applicants must complete both steps for successful submission,” a senior functionary told PTI. In its recent counter affidavit before the top court, the EC said that, as per an October 21 decision of its electoral roll division, “similar to physical submissions, online applications in Form 6 shall also be divided into two distinct parts: Form 6 as prescribed in the Rules; and the SIR Declaration.” On Tuesday, the EC clarified that voters already enrolled can still submit Form 6 for inclusion as electors if their names are missing from the draft SIR rolls. The clarification comes amid concerns among existing electors that filing Form 6, which includes a declaration stating that the applicant is seeking inclusion for the first time, could be treated as a false declaration and expose them to prosecution under electoral law.