A special enrolment drive has been initiated by the Election Commission across 20 states and Union Territories following widespread protests over deletions from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This move aims to re‐include eligible voters who were inadvertently removed during the SIR process.
## Comprehensive Drive After SIR Controversy
Following the completion of SIR in several regions, the Comptroller has instructed States where the exercise is over to embark on a supplementary voter inclusion initiative.
Key changes include:
– Eligible voters in these 20 regions no longer require the extra declaration that Form 6 needed during SIR.
– The ordinary forms under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, will apply during this non‐SIR period.
This adjustment simplifies the process for citizens whose names were removed. Under the continuous‐updation framework, individuals can submit Form 6 without the SIR declaration now that SIR is complete.
## What Is ASDD and Who It Affects
The Election Commission has directed chief electoral officers, district election officers, and electoral registration officers to ensure that no eligible person is left off the rolls. Specifically, those in the ASDD category—Absent, Shifted, Dead, Deleted—must be included.
States have begun implementing these guidelines:
– In **Goa**, booth‐level officials are visiting households to identify missing voters and helping 81 out of 97 people already submit Form 6.
– In **West Bengal**, the electoral offices have made the ASDD list accessible online. Voters whose names are missing can file Form 6 either via the website or through their Booth Level Officer.
The CEO’s office in West Bengal has stated: “Any eligible voter who finds that his or her name has been left out can submit Form 6 online or approach the Booth Level Officer for inclusion in the electoral roll.”
## Legal Experts Voice Concerns
Former Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quraishi has weighed in on the debate. He says:
– “Form 6 is for new, first‐time voters. The very first sentence says that I have not been a voter before. It is not meant for the restoration of deleted voters.”
– He suggests that if SIR deletions are judged invalid, restoring names should be done via special legal provision, not using Form 6. Using the regular Form 6 in such cases would misrepresent the voter’s status, since it includes a declaration that the applicant has never voted before—something not true for many ASDD category individuals.
## Political Fallout and Protests
In reaction to these deletions and perceived lack of transparency, opposition parties and other groups have escalated protests, especially in Delhi. They are calling for:
– The removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
– A more transparent electoral roll revision process
– Reinstatement of names dropped during SIR
The Election Commission confirms that SIR has concluded in 20 states and UTs, including Bihar and West Bengal. The final count of eligible voters will be established once the electoral rolls are published in the remaining 12 states/UTs from Phase III.
## What This Means for Voters
If you’re a citizen in one of the 20 regions where SIR has concluded:
– You no longer need the additional declaration used during SIR to fill out Form 6.
– You can apply for enrolment through Form 6 either online or in person via the Booth Level Officer.
– Those in the ASDD category have mechanisms to ensure their names are restored to the rolls.
## What’s Next
– Final voter counts will be published once remaining states complete their Phase III roll revisions.
– The Election Commission has urged officials across affected states to expedite enrolment of missing voters.
This initiative underscores the Election Commission’s attempt to balance administrative efficiency with electoral fairness, amid rising concerns over possible disenfranchisement.
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