India: Challenges in voter re-enrolment following electoral roll revisions

Efforts to re-enrol voters excluded during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) processes have faced challenges in Telangana and Delhi. In Telangana, special voter camps held on October 15 and 16 saw a low turnout, with an average of less than one Form-6 application received per polling booth. This follows a massive enumeration phase where over 7.3 million names were identified as absent, shifted, dead, or duplicate.

In Delhi, the High Court addressed concerns regarding the use of Form 6 for voter restoration. Petitioners argued that using Form 6—typically reserved for first-time voters—to restore names deleted during the SIR could lead to accusations of making false declarations. The court ruled these apprehensions were “misplaced,” noting that the Election Commission directed the use of this form. The Delhi electoral roll currently stands at 97.5 lakh voters following the removal of 47.7 lakh names in August.