The Election Commission of India has separated the online Form 6 for new voter registration from the accompanying Special Intensive Revision (SIR) declaration on its ECINet portal. In states where the SIR is still under way, applicants must now complete the two documents as distinct steps, each with its own one-time password and e-signature, The Hindu reported on 4 November 2026.
The change closes a sequence of revisions to how Form 6 appears on the Commission’s digital platform and aligns the online process with physical submissions, where Form 6 and the SIR declaration were already treated as separate papers.
What changed on the ECINet Form 6 page
Form 6 is the statutory application used for fresh enrolment of electors under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. During the SIR, a separate declaration asks applicants whether their name, or a parent’s or grandparent’s name, appeared on the electoral roll from the last intensive revision in the early 2000s.
Earlier, the declaration had been embedded between Sections J and K of the online Form 6, so one OTP and one e-signature covered both. Under the revised ECINet flow, Form 6 and the SIR declaration are submitted separately. A senior Commission official told The Hindu that applicants must finish both steps for a successful submission.
Why the Commission split the online forms
In a counter-affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on 26 October 2026, the Commission said its Electoral Roll Division decided on 21 October 2026 that online applications should mirror the physical format: Form 6 as prescribed in the Rules, plus a separate SIR declaration. The affidavit noted that presenting both on one page had raised concern that Form 6 itself had been amended — something only the Central Government can do.
The Commission maintains that Form 6 was never amended. The October decision followed earlier adjustments after the declaration had been limited to SIR states and removed where the intensive revision had already concluded, as covered in reporting by The Indian Express.
How this fits other ECI digital steps
ECINet is the Commission’s main digital stack for electoral-roll work, including online Form 6. The portal change sits alongside other recent digital measures, such as the QR code-based identity system for counting centres introduced in April 2026.
The Commission is led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, appointed in February 2025. State-level electoral administration continues through Chief Electoral Officers, including recent appointments such as Kerala’s CEO A Kowsigan.
Separately, the Commission has ordered a Special Summary Revision in 17 states and Union Territories aimed mainly at citizens turning 18 in 2027. Applicants filing Form 6 in that exercise will not have to fill the SIR-related declaration.
Why it matters for digital voter services
Online enrolment is a core citizen digital service. Splitting Form 6 and the SIR declaration on ECINet adds a second OTP and e-sign step where the intensive revision is still running, but it keeps the statutory Form 6 page aligned with the Rules. For first-time voters and Booth Level Officers guiding them, the portal now presents two clear digital steps instead of one combined screen — a change that also echoes earlier efforts such as the Commission’s online voter registration and correction services.
Key takeaways
- On ECINet, Form 6 and the SIR declaration are now separate online submissions in states where SIR continues.
- Each document needs its own OTP verification and e-signature.
- The Electoral Roll Division decided the split on 21 October 2026; it was reported live on the portal by early November.
- The Commission says Form 6 itself was not amended; only the online presentation changed.
Frequently asked questions
Do new voters still need the SIR declaration?
Yes, in states where the Special Intensive Revision is still under way. On ECINet they must complete Form 6 and the declaration as two separate online steps.
Why are two OTPs required now?
Because Form 6 and the SIR declaration are submitted as distinct documents online, matching the physical process. Each step has its own OTP and e-signature.
Was Form 6 legally amended?
The Election Commission says Form 6 was not amended. The change affects how the form and declaration are displayed and submitted on the ECINet portal.
Featured image: Election Commission press conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and colleagues. Photo: Election Commission of India (GODL-India)