Archive · 9 Jan 2026
ECI Notice to Voters Over Incomplete Forms
The Election Commission of India is updating voter lists to make sure they are correct.
They are visiting homes to check details and have published a new list.
Some people, like Gurdeep Singh Sappal and Viriato Fernandes, found their names missing from the new list.
The problem is that if you move to a new house, the current process does not easily let you update your address.
Instead, you are treated like a new voter, and your old voting record is deleted.
This has made many people worried that they might not be able to vote or that their Indian citizenship could be questioned.
The Election Commission says this is to prevent mistakes, but many voters think the process is too complicated and unfair.
They want to use the old system where updating your address was simpler.
The issue affects millions of people who have moved homes since 2003.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, leading to notices being sent to voters with incomplete or outdated information.
Voters who have changed their addresses since 2003 are being treated as new voters and are required to fill out Form 6, which deletes their old voter records.
Prominent figures like Gurdeep Singh Sappal and Viriato Fernandes have raised concerns about the process, arguing that it unfairly complicates address updates and could question their Indian citizenship.
The ECI maintains that the process is necessary to remove errors, duplicate entries, and names of deceased voters, but voters argue that the current system is flawed and excludes genuine voters.
The issue affects millions of people who have moved homes since 2003, with estimates suggesting that 14 to 15 crore (140 million to 150 million) voters could be excluded from the updated voter lists.
- Who
- Voters, including prominent figures like Gurdeep Singh Sappal and Viriato Fernandes, and the Election Commission of India (ECI)
- What
- The ECI is carrying out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, leading to notices being sent to voters with incomplete or outdated information.
- When
- The draft voter list for Uttar Pradesh was released on January 6, 2026, and the SIR exercise is currently ongoing.
- Where
- The issue is prevalent across India, with specific mentions of Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Gujarat.
- Why
- The ECI aims to update voter lists to remove errors, duplicate entries, and names of deceased voters, but the process has led to the exclusion of genuine voters who have changed their addresses.
Voters' Concerns
ECI's Stance
Treatment of Shifted Voters
Voters' Concerns
Voters argue that the current SIR process unfairly treats them as new voters, deleting their old voter records and making the address update process unnecessarily complicated.
ECI's Stance
The ECI maintains that the process is necessary to remove errors, duplicate entries, and names of deceased voters, and that voters who have shifted homes must apply again using Form 6.
Impact on Voting Rights
Voters' Concerns
Voters fear that the deletion of their old voter records could potentially question their Indian citizenship and exclude them from voting.
ECI's Stance
The ECI asserts that the process is aimed at ensuring accurate and up-to-date voter lists, and that voters can still be included by filling out the required forms.
- Voters Affected in UP
- 2.17 crore (21.7 million)
- Voters Sent Notices in UP
- 1.04 crore (10.4 million)
- Estimated Voters Who Changed Homes After 2003
- 14 crore to 15 crore (140 million to 150 million)
- Form for New Voters
- Form 6
- Form for Address Updates
- Form 8
- States with Extended SIR Deadline
- Gujarat, among others
- BLOs' Role
- Booth Level Officers visit homes to verify voter details and distribute enumeration forms.
- ECI's Affidavit Statement
- The ECI stated in its affidavit to the Supreme Court that if a voter's name is not included in the 2003 voters list, their Indian citizenship will be investigated.
