No change: ECI clarifies on Form 6 that caused 'rift' in election body

The Election Commission said there has been "no change" to the existing Form 6, after an investigation by the Indian Express found that two Election Commissioners formally objected to alterations in the document that is required to be filled out to register as a new voter. The poll panel pointed out that the new section on SIR had been added as a separate annexure, without any modification to the original Form 6 itself.

The issue was among the 14 objections recorded by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over various ECI decisions in the past 10 months.WHAT IS THE ROW OVER FORM 6?

One key objection concerned a new section added to Form 6, which is required to be filled by first-time voters. The existing Form 6 asks for basic personal details, like proof of age and proof of address.

From July, it required new voters to state whether they, their parents, or grandparents had been listed on the electoral roll after the last SIR.

Although this question was marked as "non-mandatory", new applicants could not proceed or submit the form without answering it. In several states, the last SIR was held in the early 2000s.

The SIR declaration was added directly to the online form, rather than through a formal amendment to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. This is what was exactly objected to by the Election Commissioners, as per the Express report.

In May, Joshi first flagged the issue, warning that Form 6 could not be changed without the government amending the 1960 rules. Sandhu seconded Joshi, noting that it was "unauthorised and illegal" and "must be removed immediately".

Despite the objections, the SIR requirement was not removed.

Speaking to India Today, former CEC OP Rawat and former election commissioner Ashok Lavasa supported the objections raised by Sandhu and Joshi.WHAT DID ELECTION COMMISSION SAY?

Essentially, the Election Commission sought to play on a technical distinction - while the Form 6 was not altered itself, a separate annexure was included for the SIR-related question.

"There has been no change to Form 6. The requirement relating to linkage with parents/grandparents has been introduced as an additional declaration alongside the existing and approved Form 6," the poll panel told India Today.

The ECI pointed to its SIR instructions on June 24, 2025, that were issued before the exercise in Bihar.

"In case of application for registration as a new elector... it is also directed that henceforth, along with Form 6/Form 8, an additional declaration form (Annexure D) shall also be required to be filled by the applicant to support the declaration made therein," it stated. Form 8 is required to be filled by voters who move to a new constituency.

Thus, while Form 6 itself remains unchanged, 'Annexure D' is mentioned as an additional requirement under SIR rules.- EndsPublished By: Abhishek DePublished On: Sep 24, 2026 17:48 IST