EC Makes Parents’ SIR Details Mandatory for New Voter Registration Through Form 6

The Election Commission (EC) has made it mandatory for new applicants seeking inclusion in electoral rolls to provide their parents’ details from the previous Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise while submitting Form 6 for voter registration.

According to EC officials, the declaration requirement was introduced during the Bihar SIR exercise launched in June last year through administrative instructions, though the Form 6 document itself has not been modified. Applicants were required to submit the declaration along with their registration forms, and the details were reflected in the daily SIR bulletins issued during the exercise.

An EC official said the move was aimed at mapping electors more effectively and reducing the number of additional documents required from new voters. For applicants filing Form 6 online, the process cannot proceed until the declaration regarding parents’ SIR details is completed.

The EC has also defended the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls amid criticism from opposition parties and concerns raised by UN Special Rapporteurs over transparency. The poll body said the exercise is constitutional, transparent, and aimed at ensuring that only eligible Indian citizens are included in voter lists.

Officials stated that the SIR process is intended to identify and remove duplicate, deceased, shifted, absent, and foreign voters while ensuring eligible citizens are not excluded. Responding to allegations of large-scale deletion of minority voters, including in Nandigram, West Bengal , the EC said adequate opportunities have been provided for voters to file claims and objections.

The Commission rejected allegations of bias, asserting that the revision process follows established legal procedures and safeguards the rights of genuine voters. The comments came after concerns were raised by UN representatives regarding the transparency and implementation of the SIR exercise.