Want to apply for new voter ID Card, or correction, or deletion of your name, or all but don’t want to fill all those lengthy details asked for in the form, then this article will provide you some good news. Now all those citizens who want to enrol themselves in Voters List or update their details in the electoral rolls may no longer need to fill or brainstorm with different application forms. The Election Commission of India is currently working on a proper format of application of not more than two pages to deal with requests ranging from induction of name as a new voter to correction or deletion of name and details in the rolls.

Also Read: Interesting facts about the Election Commission of India

Election Commission to simplify voter forms:

Chief election commissioner, S Nasim Zaidi said to a media channel that the current proposed format is an amalgamation of four different forms. Its format is based on ‘Saral’ form which is used for filing income-tax returns. Electors will be required to fill only this form based on their requirement. At present, a fresh application for inclusion as voter must be made through Form 6, and for dealing with objecting inclusion or seeking deletion of names in the rolls, Form 7 must be filled.

While applying for correction of particulars like spelling mistakes in names or any other corrections in the voters list, Form 8 is required to be filled. For correction of address, an application requesting the same, in the same assembly constituency must be made through Form 8A. All these forms will accommodate within three pages.

The Election Commission is also planning to compress and cut short the five-page Form 6A for enrollment as an overseas voter, into a one or two-page format for the sake of ease.

It has been Zaidi’s vision to compile Form 6, 7, 8 and 8A into a single, comprehensive form. Zaidi plans to simplify and to make procedures relating to enrollment and conduct of elections, more streamlined and smooth. According to him, the two-page format would primarily include a declaration by the applicant regarding confirmation of his Indian citizenship and also an undertaking stating that the facts and particulars entered by him are true and legitimate to best of his knowledge. A legal action will be taken against the candidate under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, for filling false declaration. Under this Act the candidate might be sent under the custody or, jail for a period of up to one year.

Zaidi stated that the idea is to make the enrollment and other rolls updating procedure, ‘easy and voter-friendly’ by having everything in a single form. “Since too many fields are involved, a single page format might not be possible. But, nevertheless, the uniform application form will not go past two pages”, he quoted.

The compulsory fields, which are still being worked on, that are included in the proposed form consists of the voter’s name, age, address, EPIC number and Aadhaar number. The rows following that will allow the applicant to select different options such as: fresh inclusion, objection/deletion, transposition and correction in the rolls, based on their need or, requirement.

Followed by the verification of the booth level officer, the final section of the form will contain the action taken by assistant electoral registration officer or electoral registration officer.

In short it is a kind of gift from Election Commission to all of us, who is working hard to simply the whole electoral procedures simple.