Election Commission: SIR-dropped voters filing Form 6 face no Section 31 action
The Election Commission of India (ECI) wrote to all States and Union Territories on 3 November 2026. Voters missing from Special Intensive Revision (SIR) draft rolls may apply afresh in Form 6, it said. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, registration officers are to start no Section 31 action against them merely for earlier enrolment.
Syllabus: Prelims · Polity & Governance; GS2 · Representation of the People Act; GS2 · Constitutional Bodies
Why this matters for UPSC
GS2 polity: the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Election Commission's control of electoral rolls. Prelims can ask what Article 324 vests in the Commission; Mains, how revisions keep eligible voters enrolled.
Why it matters
A voter who finds her name missing from the draft roll now knows that filing Form 6 will not, by itself, expose her to a criminal case. Without that assurance, many such voters might avoid the form, miss the final roll and lose their vote at the next election. The assurance has limits: it does not protect anyone still listed in another constituency, so a dishonest claim of that kind can still be punished. The larger issue is how a mass revision can clean the rolls without pushing genuine citizens off them. A form written for first-time voters is now being used by people who voted before, and the Commission has had to explain the gap to its own officers.
Prelims pointers
- Article 326 provides for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies on adult suffrage: a citizen aged at least 18, not otherwise disqualified, is entitled to be registered.
- Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, an electoral roll comes into force on its final publication, not on its draft publication.
- A roll is revised before each general election and each by-election unless the Election Commission, recording its reasons, directs otherwise; a roll not revised stays valid.
- The Election Commission may order a special revision of the roll of any constituency, or part of one, at any time, for reasons recorded.
- No name may be added to a constituency's roll after the last date for nominations until that election is over.
- If an applicant is on another constituency's roll, the officer of that constituency is informed and strikes the name off after verification.
- Form 6 is the application for inclusion as a new voter; Form 8 is the statutory form for change of residence or correction of an entry.
- Form 6 asks for Aadhaar details but lets an applicant state that he or she has no Aadhaar number.
Practise a UPSC-style question
With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:
1. Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls in the Election Commission.
2. Article 326 provides for elections to the Rajya Sabha on the basis of adult suffrage.
3. Under Article 326, a citizen must be at least 18 years old on the date fixed by law to be registered as a voter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only. Statements 1 and 3 are correct; statement 2 names the wrong House.
Statement 1: correct. Article 324(1) gives the Election Commission control over preparing electoral rolls and conducting elections.
Statement 2: incorrect. Article 326 covers elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, not the Rajya Sabha.
Statement 3: correct. Article 326 sets the age at not less than eighteen years on the date a law fixes.
Eliminate: Statement 2 is wrong, so every option with 2 goes. Out: (a), (b), (d).
Trap: Wrong scope. Adult suffrage applies to directly elected Houses; the Rajya Sabha is elected indirectly, so the statement stretches the Article too far.
Remember: Article 326 is adult suffrage for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, at 18.
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