The Election Commission (EC) has made it compulsory for first-time voters seeking inclusion in the electoral rolls to provide details related to their parents’ Special Intensive Revision (SIR) records while submitting their applications.
According to EC officials, the requirement applies not only to existing voters whose names were not covered during previous SIR exercises but also to fresh applicants filing Form 6 for voter registration. The provision was first introduced during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls conducted in Bihar in June last year, where applicants were required to submit the declaration along with Form 6 as part of the enrolment process.
Officials said the move was introduced through administrative instructions rather than changes to Form 6 itself. The objective is to help election authorities map family-linked voter records and simplify the verification process by reducing the number of supporting documents required from new applicants.
The declaration requirement has also been integrated into the online registration process, making it impossible for applicants to proceed with Form 6 submission unless the relevant parental SIR information is provided.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has defended the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise, describing it as a transparent and constitutionally backed process that has also received support from the Supreme Court. The poll body said the exercise is aimed at ensuring that all eligible Indian citizens are included in the electoral rolls while removing duplicate entries, deceased voters, shifted residents, long-term absentees and foreign nationals from the voter database.
Responding to allegations regarding the deletion of minority voters in certain areas, including Nandigram in West Bengal, EC officials said affected individuals were given sufficient opportunities to raise objections or appeal against exclusions and maintained that the revision process is being carried out without discrimination or bias.