New Delhi, September 28 (Daily Kiran) : The Election Commission has responded to concerns regarding the absence of many voters’ names from the draft electoral list in Bella Estate, located within the Chandni Chowk assembly constituency of New Delhi. In a press release dated September 10, officials stated that eligible voters whose names are missing can apply to have them included following the proper procedures.
This clarification comes in light of media reports suggesting that nearly all of the 729 voters from the JJ Bella Estate area had been removed from the electoral list, with only one name remaining.
According to the electoral officer, during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), booth-level officers (BLOs) distributed enumeration forms to voters at their registered addresses and subsequently collected them. However, a review of the voter list from the previous polling station number 33 revealed that many addresses were inaccurately recorded as “Agriculture,” while some entries lacked house numbers entirely.
The area in question is situated on the western bank of the Yamuna River, where a significant number of residents were previously involved in agricultural activities. The electoral officer noted that these agricultural activities ceased in 2021, and the residential structures in the area were demolished in 2022-2023. These changes have significantly altered the physical and residential landscape since the last voter list was compiled.
Under the SIR guidelines, BLOs were instructed to deliver enumeration forms door-to-door based on the registered addresses of voters. However, due to the demolition of residential structures, many voters no longer reside at the addresses listed in the electoral records.
As a result, the status of these voters as “ordinary residents” changed under Section 20(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, leading BLOs to categorize them as being in the ASDD list. Nevertheless, the press release emphasized that this does not prevent any eligible voter from applying to have their name added to the electoral list.
As per the Election Commission’s regulations, voters who find their names missing from the list and meet the eligibility criteria under Section 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, can submit Form-6 along with the required documents to register as voters.
The period for filing claims and objections runs from August 31 to September 30, 2026. During this time, the claims of eligible voters will be considered, with the final electoral list set to be published on November 4, 2026.
For new voter registration, Form-6 is required, while Form-6A is for overseas Indian voters. Form-7 is used for objections to proposed names or for removing existing names, and Form-8 is for address changes, details corrections, or to obtain a new EPIC without corrections. These forms can be submitted in person to the electoral registration officer, assistant electoral registration officer, or BLOs at designated polling stations. Voters also have the option to apply online.
The electoral officer reiterated the Commission’s commitment to a transparent, participatory, and inclusive voter list revision process, ensuring that no eligible citizen is left off the electoral list and that no ineligible individual is included.
Leave a Comment