Delhi SIR: 250,754 Form 6 applications received after 4.76 million names dropped from draft rolls

Delhi received 250,754 applications for inclusion in electoral rolls between August 31 and October 22, after the draft voter list removed nearly 4.76 million names during the special intensive revision (SIR), according to the chief electoral officer's (CEO) office.

The applications include both first-time voters and people whose names were deleted during the revision. West Delhi recorded the highest number of applications, at 30,361, while New Delhi district reported the lowest, at 4,341.

The CEO's office said another 212,400 Form 6 applications had been received before the draft electoral roll was published on August 31. Of the applications received between September 20 and October 22, when special enrolment camps began in Delhi, 158,470 were submitted during that period.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced special camps across the country to help eligible voters return to electoral rolls. Delhi held its first such camp on September 20, and authorities have conducted approximately 89,000 camps since then.

An official, who did not wish to be identified, said the number of applications remained low despite the extensive outreach. The official added that nearly 50% of the fresh applications were from first-time voters.

Nearly 2.95 million flagged cases resolved

Of the 3.3 million people flagged during the revision for either having no link to the 2002 base electoral roll or for logical discrepancies, approximately 2.95 million cases have been resolved, the CEO's office said.

These voters will be included in the final electoral rolls unless objections are filed through Form 7 seeking their exclusion. Such cases will then be examined by the authorities.

The claims and objections period allows eligible voters to apply for inclusion through Form 6, seek deletion through Form 7 or request corrections to their details through Form 8. The window closes on October 30.

The CEO's office said all claims and objections would be disposed of by November 30, ahead of the publication of the final electoral roll on December 4.

Form 6 is the statutory application prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, for people seeking inclusion in an electoral roll. The ECI has also urged those whose names were deleted during the SIR to submit Form 6 to seek re-enrolment.

West Delhi leads district-wise applications

West Delhi, which includes Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri, Rajouri Garden and Vikaspuri, recorded the highest number of Form 6 applications, at 30,361. North West Delhi, covering Kirari, Rohini and Mangolpuri, followed with 25,925, while East Delhi, comprising Trilokpuri, Laxmi Nagar and Gandhi Nagar, received 24,200.

South East Delhi, which includes Okhla, Kalkaji and Tughlakabad, recorded 24,153 applications.

Among the remaining districts, South Delhi received 21,322 applications, South West Delhi 22,098, North East Delhi 24,136, North Delhi 18,451, Outer North Delhi 17,991 and Central North Delhi 16,312.

New Delhi district, covering New Delhi and Delhi Cantonment, recorded the fewest applications, at 4,341. Old Delhi, which includes Ballimaran, Matia Mahal, Sadar Bazar and Chandni Chowk, received 10,668, while Central Delhi, comprising Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar, Moti Nagar and Rajinder Nagar, recorded 10,796.

Officials cite migration and voter preferences

An official said the relatively low number of applications suggested that the list of absent, shifted, dead or duplicate (ASDD) voters had been compiled through due process.

Two district-level officers said some voters who possessed two voter identity cards preferred to retain the one linked to their native place rather than enrol at their current place of residence.

A poll official from New Delhi district said nearly 20% of electors had to be removed from the draft roll because they had moved elsewhere.

“There are many government quarters here and when we were finalising the draft rolls for the district, we had to remove the names of nearly 20% electors since they had shifted to other areas. There were retired officials, who once had a Lutyens’ Delhi address but had moved to Gurugram or even to their native places. We deleted their names and advised them to enrol at the locations where they are currently residing,” the official said.

Separately, booth-level officers (BLOs) are visiting neighbourhoods to verify the status of people whose names appeared on the pre-SIR electoral roll but were missing from the current draft list. Eligible voters are being assisted with Form 6 applications to facilitate their enrolment.

Delhi SIR began in June

The SIR exercise began in Delhi on June 30, when the electoral roll contained approximately 14.5 million voters. The draft roll, published on August 31, removed nearly 4.76 million names under the ASDD categories.

The ongoing claims and objections process is intended to allow eligible voters to seek inclusion, correct their details and raise objections before the final electoral roll is published on December 4.