Four poll-bound states and one Union Territory – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry – are gearing up for the biggest festival of democracy.
While for some it isn’t a new experience, for many first-time voters, it would be the first opportunity to exercise their franchise and make their voices heard.
That is when Form 6 becomes important as it ensures that their name shows up on the final electoral list and they can vote without any hassle.
What is Form 6?
Form 6 is an application for inclusion of name in the electoral list and an Indian citizen who has attained the age of 18 years or more is eligible to go through the process. Other than that, a person shifting outside the constituency in which he/she is already registered also has to fill the form.
The applicant has to furnish details like their name, age, sex, place of birth, place of ordinary residence, details of family members already in the electoral roll, among other things.
Birth certificate, Class 10 mark sheet, PAN card, passport, driving license, Aadhaar letter given by the UIDAI – any one of these documents has to be attached as proof of date of birth.
In case of no age proof, the parents of the first-time applicant have to fill the form of oath or affirmation.
As proof of ordinary residence, any one of the following documents can be used – bank passbook, ration card, passport, driving license, latest rent agreement, Income Tax assessment order, latest water/electricity/telephone/gas bill either in the name of the applicant or that of their closest relation like parents or any post delivered through the Indian Postal Department in the applicant’s name at the said address.
When does it have to be filed?
While it can be filled all year round, the application can also be processed during the revision of the electoral roll after the draft publication of the constituency’s electoral roll is out.
Where to file it?
The application can be filed offline at the designated locations where the draft electoral roll is displayed (mostly polling station locations) as well as the offices of the Electoral Registration Officer and Assistant Electoral Registration Officer of the constituency. The application can also be filed online on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer of the state concerned.
When the revision programme is not going on, it can be filed only with the Electoral Registration Officer or online.
Incomplete application forms are liable to be rejected, hence, all the required details have to be duly filled.