Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Election Commission Removes SIR Declaration From Online Form 6
The Election Commission changed an online form used to apply to join the voter list.
It removed an extra question in places where a special review of voter lists has finished.
The question asked whether the applicant or their parents or grandparents appeared on an older voter list.
People in those places now use the regular Form 6 set out in rules from 1960.
The extra question still appears in places where the review is continuing.
Two Election Commissioners reportedly objected to changing the form without changing the rules.
The Commission also announced a review of whether its online system follows laws and rules.
The Election Commission removed the additional SIR declaration from online Form 6 in states and Union Territories where the revision has concluded.
The change appeared on ECINET four days after the Commission decided the requirement would apply only during SIR exercises.
The declaration asked applicants whether their names or those of their parents or grandparents appeared in earlier SIR electoral rolls.
Applicants in areas where SIR has ended now submit the statutory Form 6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
The declaration remains in use where SIR is ongoing; Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected to changing the statutory form without amending rules.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India; Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected to the form change.
- What
- The Commission removed an additional SIR declaration from online Form 6 in areas where the revision has concluded.
- When
- On Wednesday, four days after the Commission decided the requirement would apply only during SIR exercises.
- Where
- On the ECINET portal in states and Union Territories where SIR has concluded.
- Why
- The Commission said statutory forms would be used during non-SIR periods; the additional declaration remains for areas where SIR is underway.
Commission's Decision
Reported Commissioner Objections
Use of the additional declaration
Commission's Decision
The Commission limited the additional requirement to areas and periods where SIR is underway, removing it where the exercise has concluded.
Reported Commissioner Objections
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly argued that the statutory Form 6 could not be modified without amending the relevant rules.
Commission procedure
Commission's Decision
The Commission said statutory forms would be used during non-SIR periods and set up an expert panel to review ECINET's compliance with laws and rules.
Reported Commissioner Objections
The Indian Express reported that the two Commissioners had recorded objections to SIR-related decisions on multiple occasions, raising questions about internal decision-making.
- Form
- Form 6 is used by eligible citizens to apply for inclusion in electoral rolls.
- Portal
- ECINET
- Removed requirement
- An additional declaration linked to earlier Special Intensive Revision electoral rolls.
- Declaration details
- Applicants indicated whether their names or those of their parents or grandparents appeared in earlier SIR rolls.
- Applicable statutory form
- Form 6 prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
- Where the declaration remains
- States and Union Territories where SIR is still underway.
- Related review
- The Commission set up an expert panel to review ECINET's compliance with laws and rules.
