Congress Questions SIR Hurdle for Young Voters as EC Announces Special Enrolment Camps

NEW DELHI, Sep 26: Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of creating an additional hurdle for young and first-time voters through a declaration linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The allegations came as the Election Commission directed officials to organise special enrolment camps for young voters and widely publicise them through social media.

In a post on X on Saturday, Ramesh alleged that the ECI had created difficulties for first-time voters by requiring them to provide information about whether they, their parents or grandparents were included in an earlier SIR electoral roll.

He argued that the requirement could pose difficulties for first-time Gen Z voters who may not have access to historical electoral-roll records.

The Election Commission has rejected the contention that the statutory Form 6 was altered. The poll panel has maintained that Form 6, prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, remains unchanged and that an additional Annexure D declaration was introduced separately under the SIR orders.

According to the ECI, the declaration requires new electors to provide information on whether they or their parents or grandparents were included in an earlier SIR roll.

Ramesh, however, alleged that the requirement was unlawful and claimed that the online voter-enrolment process was modified in early July without a formal notification. He also argued that the Election Commission did not have the authority to alter a statutory form without a corresponding amendment to the rules.

The controversy intensified following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to the incorporation of SIR-related questions into the voter-enrolment process. Reports said the two commissioners had described the requirement as unauthorised and sought its removal.

The Election Commission has maintained that the relevant SIR orders and the additional declaration were approved unanimously by the full Commission and reiterated that Form 6 itself had not been changed.

Meanwhile, Delhi election authorities are stepping up efforts to enrol young voters during the ongoing SIR exercise. The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office has directed district election officials to organise special enrolment camps at colleges, universities and other educational institutions on September 29 and 30.

The camps, aimed particularly at voters aged 18 to 25, will operate from 9 am to 3 pm, with Booth Level Officers assisting eligible applicants in submitting Form 6. Officials have also been instructed to publicise the camps through social media.

According to the Delhi CEO's office, eligible voters whose names are missing from the draft electoral roll can apply for inclusion through Form 6 along with the applicable declaration during the claims and objections period, which runs until September 30.

Ramesh also renewed his demand for accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the issue.

The Congress leader's allegations come amid the Election Commission's continued assertion that there has been no alteration to the statutory Form 6 and that Annexure D is an additional declaration prescribed under the SIR orders.