ECI Drops Declaration Form Requirement for Electoral Roll Revisions

This decision follows a September 26 directive, clarifying that the additional documentation previously mandated for applicants is no longer necessary. The form, which required new registrants to link their lineage to electoral rolls from prior intensive revisions, was initially introduced as a temporary measure under the June 2025 order. While the Supreme Court previously upheld the use of this declaration, the Commission has now moved to streamline the process for the 20 states where the revision is already complete, including West Bengal and Bihar.

The policy adjustment arrives amid heightened political friction. Opposition leaders, led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, have demanded a complete rollback of the SIR exercise, citing concerns over transparency and the institutional integrity of the Election Commission. During a recent INDIA bloc meeting, Kharge warned that the democratic principle of "one person, one vote" is under threat, pointing to internal reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had repeatedly questioned the procedural handling of these electoral revisions. Despite these internal tensions, the ECI maintains that all schedules regarding the revision exercise were issued with the unanimous approval of the commission.