Maharashtra Seeks Form 6 Tweaks as Removed Voters Fear Penalties Under Election Laws

Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) requesting urgent modifications to Form 6 to help voters stripped from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) re-register without declaring themselves first-time voters.

The proposal, submitted to the apex poll body last week, aims to remove legal hurdles that have left thousands of previously registered citizens hesitant to apply for re-inclusion.

Fear of Prosecution Halts Re-Registration

Under existing guidelines, the ECI directed individuals whose names were deleted during the SIR cleanup exercise to re-apply using Form 6. However, the current iteration of Form 6 requires applicants to explicitly declare that they are applying for inclusion in the voter list for the first time.

This requirement has triggered widespread hesitation among affected citizens. Under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, knowingly making a false declaration on election forms carries a penalty of up to one year in prison, a fine, or both. Election officials on the ground have encountered severe resistance from deleted voters who fear prosecution for signing a form that incorrectly labels them new voters.

Key Amendments Proposed to ECI

To address the procedural gridlock, the Maharashtra election office recommended three major alterations to Form 6:

• Removing the phrase "New Voters" from the official header of Form 6.
• Inserting an alternative declaration specifically tailored for individuals previously registered in an assembly constituency who currently hold no active enrollment elsewhere.
• Adding a dedicated field allowing applicants to supply their existing Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number, enabling polling staff to trace previous registration records.

The adjustments intend to draw a clear legal line between genuine first-time applicants and citizens seeking restoration of their legitimate voting rights.

Impending Deadlines Heighten Urgency

The administrative push comes at a crucial juncture in Maharashtra's ongoing electoral roll update. The state's claims-and-objections window closes on October 26, while the final voter list publication date is set for November 16.

Unless the ECI approves the structural updates to Form 6 alongside necessary legal and administrative clearances, thousands of voters risk remaining disenfranchised due to documentation technicalities.