The Election Commission of India (ECI) finds itself under intense scrutiny over modifications linked to Form 6, the statutory application for enrolling new voters under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. What began as internal dissent has escalated into a public controversy involving media exposés, official clarifications, and a sharp Supreme Court rebuke, raising questions about transparency and procedural propriety.
Form 6 is a prescribed form that cannot be altered without formal amendment by the central government, subject to parliamentary oversight. Initially used in Bihar’s SIR (order dated June 24, 2025), it required applicants to link themselves or their parents/grandparents to earlier electoral rolls from previous SIRs. Later, in July 2026, the online version on the ECINET portal incorporated related questions, making progression through the form contingent on responses, though the statutory paper form remained unchanged. In May 2026, they recorded that Form 6 could not be altered without amending the 1960 Rules. These objections, among 14 instances of dissent against decisions under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, came to light through a detailed Indian Express investigation published on September 23, 2026.
During the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the ECI introduced an additional declaration.
On August 13, Sandhu termed the online change “unauthorised and illegal” and demanded its immediate removal, citing risks of harassment to first-time voters. Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi repeatedly objected.
