Election Commission allows omitted voters to submit Form 6 safely

The Election Commission has told states that previously enrolled voters omitted from draft rolls may file Form 6. The clarification removes prosecution fears unless duplicate enrolment or an unlawful declaration is involved.Image used for representational purposes onlyNewdelhi,Nov 3, 2026 20:48 ISTThe Election Commission has said voters whose names are missing from draft Special Intensive Revision rolls can submit Form 6 for inclusion in the final electoral roll even if they were enrolled earlier, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The clarification addresses concerns that submitting the form could amount to a false declaration and lead to prosecution under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Form 6 includes a declaration that the applicant is seeking inclusion in the electoral roll for the first time.In a letter to all state chief electoral officers, the Election Commission said it had learnt that some people whose names were not included in draft rolls published during the ongoing revision were hesitant to submit Form 6 because of the declaration.“Therefore, such electors believe that submission of Form 6, in view of their previous enrolment, would amount to making a false declaration and render them liable for prosecution under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950,” the commission said, according to PTI. The poll authority clarified that the submission of Form 6 by a voter whose name had been deleted from a draft revision roll would not, by itself, constitute a false declaration.It said an Electoral Registration Officer could not initiate action under Section 31 merely because a voter who was on an earlier electoral roll submitted Form 6 during or after the revision. Such action cannot be taken unless the voter is enrolled elsewhere or has made an unlawful or false declaration, the commission said.Citing an October 14 judgment of the Delhi High Court, the Election Commission said concerns about making a false declaration were misplaced. It reiterated that previously enrolled voters missing from draft revision rolls could use Form 6 to seek inclusion in the final electoral roll.- Ends