Applying For Your First Voter ID? Election Commission Now Wants Your Parents' Details

Published 13 July 2026 · india

Applying For Your First Voter ID? Election Commission Now Wants Your Parents' Details Written By, Last Updated: July 13, 2026, 15:37 IST Form 6 is

Applying For Your First Voter ID? Election Commission Now Wants Your Parents' Details Written By, Last Updated: July 13, 2026, 15:37 IST Form 6 is the application form used by anyone who wants to register as a voter for the first time or shift their voter registration to a different constituency Rapid Read This requirement has been added for states where the SIR has been completed or is underway, except Bihar, which follows a different workflow. If you’re applying for a voter ID for the first time, there’s a new requirement you may notice. The Election Commission (EC) has updated the online version of Form 6, the application used by first-time voters to get their names added to the electoral roll. Applicants must now disclose whether their parents were included in the last Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and, if they were, provide details such as the polling booth number and serial number where their names appeared. The change has sparked debate because the statutory Form 6 prescribed under election rules has not been formally amended, even though the online portal now seeks additional information. Here’s what it means for voters. What Is Form 6?

Form 6 is the application form used by anyone who wants to register as a voter for the first time or shift their voter registration to a different constituency. Typically, applicants provide details such as name and date of birth, address, identity and age proof, declaration that they are an Indian citizen and ordinarily resident in the constituency. Now, the online form includes an additional declaration related to parents and the SIR exercise. What’s The New Requirement? The online Form 6 now asks applicants: Were either of your parents included in the last Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? If yes, what were their polling station and serial numbers in that revision? If not, provide your parents’ names and their EPIC (Voter ID) numbers, if available. This requirement has been added for states where the SIR has been completed or is underway, except Bihar, which follows a different workflow. What Is The Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? The SIR is a large-scale verification exercise carried out by the Election Commission to update electoral rolls. Its objectives include removing duplicate entries, deleting names of deceased or permanently shifted voters, correcting voter details, adding eligible new voters, and ensuring electoral rolls remain accurate and up to date.

The exercise has already been conducted in several states over the past year. Does This Mean Your Parents Must Be Voters? No. The new declaration does not say that your parents must be registered voters for you to apply. If your parents were not part of the last SIR, applicants can indicate that and provide whatever details are available, including their names and EPIC numbers, if they have them. Why Has The EC Made This Change? Election Commission officials say the objective is to strengthen verification and improve the accuracy of electoral rolls by linking new applications with information collected during the SIR exercise. The commission has defended the broader SIR process as a constitutional exercise aimed at ensuring only eligible voters remain on electoral rolls. Why Is It Controversial? The controversy is not over collecting parental information alone. Critics point out that the additional declaration has been introduced on the EC’s online portal even though Form 6 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, has not been formally amended through the usual legal process. They have questioned whether the commission can effectively alter the enrolment process without first changing the prescribed form. The issue has also drawn attention because recent SIR exercises led to the deletion of millions of names from electoral rolls in multiple states, making the new parental linkage requirement politically sensitive.