20 hrs ago
Election Commission Orders Drive to Restore Left-Out Voters
The Election Commission is asking local election workers to look for people whose names disappeared from voter lists during a review.
Workers will visit homes and help eligible people apply to be added again.
They will also help people who are registering to vote for the first time.
The Commission says this should help make sure eligible citizens are not left off the lists.
But some former election officials and a court have questioned the form being used.
Form 6 says the person is applying to be included for the first time.
Critics say that is not accurate for people who have voted before.
The Commission’s instructions also allow party representatives to see lists of voters who may have been left out.
The Election Commission directed state poll officials to identify people listed before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) but missing from current rolls.
Booth-level officers are to visit identified voters and help eligible people apply using Form 6, alongside new and first-time voters.
Officials are asked to complete the house-to-house exercise in about a month and cover at least 20–25 electors weekly.
Former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court questioned using Form 6 for people who were previously registered.
The Commission said voter enrolment remains open and the drive aims to ensure eligible citizens are not disenfranchised.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India directed state poll officials, including booth-level officers, to conduct the enrolment drive.
- What
- Officials are to identify eligible people missing from current rolls and facilitate their enrolment, generally through Form 6.
- Where
- In areas where the Special Intensive Revision has been completed.
- When
- The directions were issued after a videoconference on Thursday; the drive is intended to take about a month.
- Why
- The Commission said the drive is intended to identify and enrol eligible voters left out during or after the revision.
Critics of the Form 6 process
Election Commission’s stated position
Using Form 6 for previously registered voters
Critics of the Form 6 process
Former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said asking a previously registered voter to declare that they are applying for the first time is improper and argued that Form 8 should be used for corrections. The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court also questioned the system’s use of Form 6 for an existing voter.
Election Commission’s stated position
The Commission directed officials to use Form 6 to facilitate enrolment of eligible people left out of the current roll and said no eligible citizen should be disenfranchised.
Whether the revision excluded eligible citizens
Critics of the Form 6 process
A former chief election commissioner cited differing deletion rates between constituencies and said cumbersome procedures and difficulty producing documents may have led to eligible citizens being excluded.
Election Commission’s stated position
The Commission said the special drive will identify people left out during or after the SIR and give eligible applicants a route to enrolment.
Key facts
- Application form
- Form 6 is being used to facilitate enrolment.
- Household visits
- Booth-level officers are to visit identified electors and also seek out left-out and first-time voters.
- Weekly target
- Officials may cover at least 20–25 electors per week.
- Target duration
- The directions say the exercise should be completed in about one month.
- Political party representatives
- Electoral registration officers are to share booth-wise lists with party representatives.
- Goa cases
- The article says 97 voters were deleted despite officials clearing their names; three were found to be Portuguese citizens, six were living abroad, and the rest were enrolled through Form 6.
Quotes
S.Y. Quraishi
Former chief election commissioner
“How can a deleted voter, suppose you are deleted, I am deleted, I have voted 10 times before, how... can I write I am a new voter?.... It is absolutely illegal and criminal. If they (EC) force you to do a crime, they themselves are committing a crime. They should correct it from Form 8. That is the legal way to do it.”
telegraphindia.com
Goa bench of the Bombay High Court
High Court bench commenting on the treatment of a petitioner’s voter status
“He (petitioner) was never a new voter. He was an existing voter. He became new for your system.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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