Patna: The Election Commission of India has introduced a new requirement for first-time voter registration in Bihar, making it mandatory for applicants to provide details of their parents’ participation in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) while submitting Form-6 online.
According to the Commission, applicants seeking inclusion in the electoral roll for the first time must now complete a declaration regarding their parents’ SIR status before the online application can be submitted.
Parents’ SIR Details Now Mandatory
Under the revised process, first-time voters must indicate whether their parents were included in the SIR exercise.
If the parents were included, applicants must provide the Assembly constituency number, polling station details and the serial number of their parents in the electoral roll.
If the parents were not part of the SIR exercise, applicants must select the relevant option and provide their parents’ names and Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers.
Online Form Cannot Be Submitted Without Declaration
Election Commission officials said the online Form-6 application will not be accepted unless the mandatory SIR declaration is completed.
Officials clarified that the requirement has been introduced through administrative instructions and that no formal amendment has been made to Form-6 itself.
According to the Commission, the provision is intended to facilitate the mapping of new applicants with the existing electoral database and reduce the need for additional verification documents.
No Clarification on Missing Parental Records
The Commission has not yet clarified how applications will be processed in cases where applicants do not have access to their parents’ SIR records or EPIC details.
Officials have not announced any alternative procedure for such applicants.
Linked to Bihar’s SIR Exercise
According to the Election Commission, the declaration requirement was first introduced during Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision campaign launched in June last year.
During that exercise, new voters were also required to submit the declaration alongside Form-6.
Objectives of the SIR
The Commission said the Special Intensive Revision aims to improve the accuracy of the electoral roll by enrolling all eligible Indian citizens and identifying duplicate, deceased and permanently shifted voters.
The exercise also seeks to verify long-absent electors and remove the names of foreign nationals from the electoral roll in accordance with constitutional and legal provisions.
Eligibility for New Voter Registration
To register as a voter in Bihar, an applicant must be an Indian citizen, be at least 18 years of age on the qualifying date, reside in the concerned Assembly constituency and not be disqualified from voting under any law.
Applicants are required to submit a passport-sized photograph, proof of age and proof of residence while applying for inclusion in the electoral roll.
The Election Commission said the new declaration requirement is intended to improve the accuracy and transparency of the electoral database, while details of the procedure for applicants without parental records are yet to be specified.
