Why in news?

Ahead of the freezing of electoral rolls for the April 23 and 29 West Bengal polls, allegations have surfaced of a last-minute push to add voters from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

It has been claimed that large numbers of Form 6 applications (used for new voter enrolment) were submitted, with concerns raised that this could alter the state’s electoral demography.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is Form 6?
• Processing of Form 6 Applications
• Allegations of Large-Scale Form 6 Submissions
• Election Commission’s Response

What is Form 6?

• Form 6 is the official application form used to enrol new voters in the electoral rolls, as per the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
• It is submitted to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the concerned Assembly constituency (or Parliamentary constituency in Union Territories without an Assembly).
• Basically, Form 6 is the primary gateway for voter enrolment, combining document verification with self-declaration, while placing responsibility on the ERO for scrutiny and final inclusion in electoral rolls.
• Role of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO)
  • The ERO, a local official appointed by the Election Commission in consultation with the state government, is responsible for:
    • Maintaining electoral rolls
    • Accepting new voter applications
    • Processing deletions
    • Conducting hearings in case of objections
• Citizenship Requirement
• Under Article 326 of the Constitution, only Indian citizens aged 18 or above are eligible to vote.
• However, Form 6 does not require documentary proof of citizenship.
• Instead, it includes a self-declaration, and false claims can attract penalty or imprisonment up to one year.
• Mode of Application
  • Form 6 can be:
    • Filled online via the ECI’s ECINET portal, or
    • Submitted offline to the ERO, typically a Sub-Divisional Magistrate or equivalent officer

Processing of Form 6 Applications

• After a Form 6 is submitted, the Booth-Level Officer (BLO) verifies the applicant’s details.
• The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) then assesses whether the applicant is ordinarily resident in the constituency, above 18 years of age, and a citizen. If satisfied, the applicant is added to the electoral roll.
• Types of Voter Roll Updates
  • There are two ways in which names are added to electoral rolls:
    • Special Summary Revision (SSR) - This is an annual or pre-election revision process where large-scale updates are made.
    • Continuous Updation - This process runs throughout the year, except during the period between the last date of nomination and declaration of election results.
    • In election years, an additional supplement is generated to include changes made during continuous updation up to the nomination deadline.
• Objection and Verification Process
• The ERO must provide at least seven days for objections by displaying proposed additions on a notice board.
• Given the timeline, this objection window has closed, meaning new Form 6 applications cannot be accepted in the normal course.
• Exceptional Situation in West Bengal
  • However, due to a Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal and the involvement of judicial officers appointed by the Supreme Court to decide voter eligibility, the timeline remains uncertain.
  • It is unclear how long affected individuals will have to appeal or resolve disputes over inclusion in the electoral rolls.

Allegations of Large-Scale Form 6 Submissions

• Over the past week, allegations have been made that thousands of Form 6 applications were submitted in a short span at the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
  • It has been claimed that around 30,000 forms were filed within 6–7 hours, raising concerns over possible procedural violations.
  • It has been pointed out that, as per Election Commission rules, Booth Level Agents can submit a maximum of 50 forms per day.
• The unusually high volume of submissions has led to questions about compliance with these limits and the transparency of the process.
• Another key allegation is that some applications were for individuals already registered as voters in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which would violate the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
• Form 6 requires applicants to declare that they are not enrolled elsewhere, making duplicate entries illegal.
• Such allegations of last-minute additions and deletions in voter rolls are not new.
• Similar concerns have been raised in previous elections, including Karnataka (2023), Maharashtra (2024), and Delhi (2025).

Election Commission’s Response

• So far, the Election Commission (EC) has not issued an official response to the allegations regarding large-scale Form 6 submissions.
• The West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer stated that while documents were received at the office, he was not aware of their contents.
• He clarified that the CEO does not have the authority to add or delete voters from the electoral rolls.
• According to the CEO, any complaints regarding fake or ineligible voters are forwarded to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), who is responsible for verification and decision-making. The CEO’s role is limited to issuing directions and forwarding cases.