The Maharashtra chief electoral officer has drafted a proposal to the Election Commission of India last week to modify Form 6 so that voters whose names were removed during the state’s Special Intensive Revision can reapply without claiming first‑time status.
The proposal calls for three key changes: dropping the “New Voters” label from the form’s title, adding an alternative declaration for those previously registered but now unenrolled, and permitting the submission of earlier EPIC numbers to aid verification.
Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, makes it an offence to furnish false statements in election rolls, carrying up to a year’s imprisonment or a fine. That legal risk has made many former voters hesitant to re‑apply, fearing accusations of misrepresentation.
The state’s claims‑and‑objections window closes on October 26, with the final roll due on November 16. The proposal remains subject to ECI’s review; once approved, it could streamline re‑enrolment for thousands of displaced voters.
A farmer in Pune, whose name was struck off during the SIR, said the change would allow him to restore his voting rights without having to allege he had never voted before.
The next milestone will be the Election Commission’s decision on the amendments, which is expected before the November 16 roll release.