EC: Okay to use Form 6 for re-inclusion in rolls

NewsIndia NewsEC: Okay to use Form 6 for re-inclusion in rolls Section 31 of the RP Act provides for imprisonment up to a year or fine or both, for anyone making a false declaration during updation of rolls NEW DELHI: Election Commission Tuesday clarified that no action will be taken against a previous elector, whose name is deleted from draft rolls published during Special Intensive Revision (SIR), who seeks re-inclusion by filling Form 6.The declaration that the voter's name is being included in the electoral roll for the first time will not be liable for prosecution under election laws for making a false statement, EC said in a communication to chief electoral officers (CEOs) of states and UTs.Recalling a Delhi HC order dated Oct 14 that held as "misplaced" the apprehension of an applicant, who argued that submitting Form 6 would amount to making a false declaration, EC directed that "no action shall be initiated under Section 31 of the R P Act by an ERO against an elector merely on the ground that the elector had been included in a previous electoral roll and has submitted Form 6 during the SIR process or afterwards, provided the elector is not already enrolled in any other parliamentary or assembly constituency and the declaration made is otherwise in accordance with law".US Midterm Election Results 2026US election results: Flooding forces relocation of 21 polling sites in FloridaUS House election: Democrats need 3-seat gain to end Republican majorityUS Senate election: Can Democrats flip the Senate as Trump faces crucial test?

">EC clarifies deleted voters can seek re-inclusion through Form 6 during SIR without facing prosecution for false declaration Declaration prescribed under Form 6 has been in force since Aug 1, 2022: EC Stating that submission of Form 6 for inclusion afresh under SIR or afterwards is not, by itself, false merely because the elector was previously enrolled, EC on Tuesday instructed chief electoral officers of states and UTs that no action should be initiated by electoral registration officers (ERO) against such electors under Section 31 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1950.

Section 31 of the RP Act provides for imprisonment up to a year or fine or both, for anyone making a false declaration during preparation or updation of electoral roll.Join conversation InsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig Development Certain previous electors, whose names did not figure in the draft electoral roll published during SIR, have been hesitant to submit Form 6 as they are also required to furnish a declaration prescribed in Form 6 that their name is being included for the first time in the electoral roll.They believe that this would amount to falsehood in view of their previous enrolment, attracting Section 31.

Stressing that the declaration prescribed under Form 6 has been in force since Aug 1, 2022, the poll body clarified that an elector whose name does not appear in the draft electoral roll may submit Form 6 to seek inclusion in the final electoral roll, “in accordance with the prescribed procedure,” both under SIR and afterwards, irrespective of whether such elector was enrolled previously.

Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. Bharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012.

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