ECI Makes Parents' SIR Details Mandatory In Form-6 ; Know What It Means And How It Affects New Voters

Voter Id Card New Rules: The Election Commission has introduced a new requirement in the online voter registration process for first-time applicants. Applicants filling Form 6 will now also have to provide details related to their parents’ Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Without completing this declaration, the online application cannot be submitted.

According to the commission, if the applicant’s parents were included in the previous SIR process, the applicant will have to provide details such as their assembly constituency, polling booth (part number), and the serial number under which their names appear in the electoral roll. If the parents were not included in the SIR, applicants must select the relevant option and provide their parents' names and, if available, their EPIC (Elector Photo Identity Card) numbers.

According to PTI, the Election Commission said the new requirement has been made to make the verification of first-time voters easier and reduce the need for additional supporting documents in many cases. 

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The Commission also said that the objective of the SIR exercise is to ensure that all eligible voters are included while removing the names of deceased, duplicate, shifted, or foreign electors from the electoral rolls.

What Has Changed? Know New Rules

Every first-time voter applying online through Form-6 must now declare whether their parents were included in the previous Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The application cannot be completed without providing this information.

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What If the Parents Were Included in the SIR?

Applicants must provide:

- Assembly constituency details

- Polling station (Part Number)

- Serial number of their parents in the electoral roll

What If the Parents Were Not Included In Last SIR Roll?

Applicants must choose the relevant option and provide their parents' names along with their EPIC (Voter ID) numbers, if available.

Meanwhile, legal experts maintain that the format of Form 6 is prescribed by law and cannot be altered without a central government notification and corresponding amendments to the Official Gazette. As of now, no such amendment has been publicly notified.

What Does This Mean for New Voters?

Young citizens registering to vote for the first time after turning 18 may now need to obtain details of their parents' previous SIR records. The Election Commission has not yet clarified how applications will be processed if applicants are unable to provide the required information