Election Commission Under Pressure: New Electoral Roll Rule: EC Removes Mandatory Parent, Grandparent Details From Form 6

The Election Commission of India has dropped the requirement for new voters to submit details of their parents or grandparents when applying for voter registration through Form 6 across 20 states and Union Territories.

The decision comes following intense political scrutiny and internal objections raised within the Commission regarding recent modifications made to the ECINet portal during the Special Intensive Revision drive.

Revision in Voter Registration Formats

Under the updated protocol, first-time electors applying for inclusion in electoral rolls will no longer need to complete progeny mapping or locate their family's historic entries from previous revision exercises. The Election Commission confirmed that citizens seeking registration can submit standard age and residence verification documents directly to their respective Electoral Registration Officers.

The move addresses procedural hurdles that had stalled fresh voter additions, particularly affecting young citizens turning 18. Previously, applicants in 20 states were asked to specify whether their own name or that of a parent or grandparent featured in electoral rolls from earlier revision drives.

Internal Objections and Political Fallout

The controversial requirement became a central flashpoint after details surfaced of objections recorded by Election Commissioners within the three-member body. Official records indicated that concerns were raised regarding the addition of non-statutory fields on the ECINet portal without formal approval.

Opposition parties attacked the Commission over the issue, alleging that the extra documentation burden led to the targeted disenfranchisement of young electors. In response, the Commission clarified that internal observations formed part of its standard deliberative process, while extending claim and objection deadlines in key regions including Delhi and Maharashtra.

Continuous Updation Process Underway

To ensure data integrity across its digital platforms, the Election Commission has constituted an expert technical committee featuring representatives from the Indian Institutes of Technology to audit the ECINet portal and streamline application workflows.

"The Special Intensive Revision exercise has been completed across 20 states and UTs. Excluded electors and eligible first-time voters can continue to seek inclusion in the electoral rolls through the continuous updation process using the simplified Form 6," the Election Commission stated in an official release.

Booth Level Officers have been instructed to accept online and physical Form 6 submissions without insisting on ancestral mapping data, ensuring that verified age and address proofs remain the sole criteria for processing new voter applications.