- ECI commissioners objected to Form 6 changes multiple times.
- Sandhu and Joshi termed modification "unauthorised and illegal".
- Changes concern new declaration for first-time voter applications.
A major disagreement has surfaced within the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding changes made to Form 6, the application Indian citizens fill out to register as first-time voters.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi placed objections on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months against decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with key concerns focused on changes made to Form 6.
What Is Form 6 And When Is It Filed?
Form 6 is an application used to include one's name in the electoral roll. Indian citizens who have turned 18 or adults who have never enrolled before are eligible to go through the process. Citizens moving to a different constituency use Form 8 instead.
Applicants must provide basic personal details, such as name, gender, date of birth, place of residence, and family members already on the roll, along with valid identity and address proofs:
- Proof of Age: Birth certificate, Class 10 mark sheet, PAN card, passport, driving licence, or Aadhaar letter from UIDAI. If age proof is unavailable, parents must submit a form of oath or affirmation.
- Proof of Residence: Bank passbook, ration card, passport, driving licence, rent agreement, utility bills, or official postal mail.
Form 6 can be filed at any time during the year or submitted during electoral roll revisions following the publication of a draft roll.
What Changed In Form 6?
In July 2026, the online version of Form 6 on the ECI's ECINet portal was modified to include a new declaration section inserted between Part J and Part K, the report added.
Applicants filling out the form online must declare one of three things before completing their application:
- Their own name appeared in the electoral roll from the last SIR.
- A parent's or grandparent's name appeared in that SIR roll.
- Neither their name nor their parents'/grandparents' name appeared in that roll.
This update presents difficulties because SIR timelines vary significantly across the country. While some states conducted an SIR recently, others last held one in the early 2000s.
Why The Form 6 Changes Triggered Controversy?
The controversy stems from how the changes were implemented. In May 2026, Joshi warned that Form 6 could not be altered without the Union Government amending the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, a view supported by Sandhu.
Despite these warnings, the change was made in July 2026. On August 13, Sandhu described the change as "unauthorised and illegal" and stated that it "must be removed immediately," according to The Indian Express report, which noted the question was still present on the form this week.
Responding to the report, the ECI issued a statement on X stating that internal disagreements among election commissioners are part of the standard decision-making process, adding that all commission decisions over the past year were unanimous.