SIR: Voters without Aadhaar unable to submit Form-6, risks exclusion

The BLO app provides an ‘E-sign’ option, for which an OTP is generated on the mobile number linked to Aadhaar. This creates a hurdle for those who do not possess Aadhaar at all. | Photo Credit: File photo While Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines categorically clarify that an Aadhaar card is “not mandatory” for submitting Form-6 — the form required for inclusion in the electoral roll — voters without Aadhaar are at risk of being left out, as the option to enroll a voter without Aadhaar is not enabled on the ECI’s Booth Level Officer (BLO) App. As per ECI guidelines, while filing Form-6, a voter can either provide their Aadhaar details or indicate that they do not have an Aadhaar number. The form itself has a provision for this (marked as Option E). However, the BLO app provides an ‘E-sign’ option, for which an OTP is generated on the mobile number linked to Aadhaar. This creates a hurdle for those who do not possess Aadhaar at all, as BLOs say they are unable to accept and digitise such applications through the app. BLOs, speaking to The Hindu, said the issue could affect people living in slum areas and others who do not possess basic documents. “Even if a person is filling a physical form, we (BLOs) are not able to accept it or digitise it because of the same limitation. The verification requires OTP authentication through an Aadhaar-linked number,” a BLO said, pointing out that this could exclude people even before their applications are considered. An Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) said that the issue was raised during recent training sessions. However, officials from the CEO’s office dismissed the concern, arguing that “everybody holds an Aadhaar”. The ECI guidelines also make specific provisions to ensure that people in different circumstances are not excluded from the electoral rolls. For instance, they provide for the enrolment of homeless persons without documentary proof of residence. In such cases, the BLO is required to visit the address mentioned in Form-6 more than once at night to verify that the applicant actually sleeps there. “The guidelines recognise the difficulties faced by people in precarious circumstances, but the lack of a corresponding provision creates barrier to enrolment,” BLOs pointed out. Another hurdle is the declaration form accompanying Form-6, which was introduced while the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was under way and was not there even for States in Phase-II SIR. The declaration requires applicants to provide details indicating that their parents or grandparents were part of the 2002 electoral rolls. BLOs said they have been unable to accept or process Form-6 applications where these mapping details have not been provided. It is important to note that many now seeking enrolment through Form-6 are voters whose names were excluded from the draft electoral rolls. Karnataka saw more than 1.07 crore names excluded, with many marked absent or shifted during the revision. These names will come back to the rolls and if the Aadhaar option remains mandatory on the BLO app, it could become a barrier for voters seeking re-enrolment who would otherwise be eligible. Published - August 31, 2026 10:50 pm IST