SIR in TN: A new enrollment period for Chennai voters begins before to the release of the final roll

SIR in TN: The final electoral list for Chennai will be released in February, and applications for inclusion are currently being accepted from new voters, people who moved, and those who were excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) effort.

Form-6, the required application for new voter registration, is now being distributed around the city by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). Nearly 3,700 booth-level officers (BLOs) are distributing the forms so that locals may get them.

In addition to distributing Form-6 in person, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has made it possible for qualified candidates to apply online via its official voter site.

Zonal offices have already given the forms to BLOs in numerous locations, and they have been told to provide them to citizens who come to them. The paperwork may be completed and sent in by applicants on the same day.

BLOs have been instructed to set up booth-level camps in some constituencies with the express purpose of distributing and collecting Form-6 applications.

There is currently no official word about whether the January 8 deadline for Form-6 submissions has been extended. This occurs concurrently with two extensions granted to Tamil Nadu for the SIR enumeration procedure. The entire implementation of the enrollment process is apparently being slowed down in certain places by authorities’ continued attention on digitizing enumeration documents, some of which are said to include anomalies.

Those who want to apply online may use www.voters.eci.gov.in to submit Form-6. Basic personal information, such as name, residence, and constituency, is required for the application. A self-attested Aadhaar card may be uploaded by candidates as verification of their address and date of birth.

Alternative papers, such as birth certificates, PAN cards, driver’s licenses, or Class 10 or 12 mark sheets, may be used to determine age in situations where Aadhaar information include mistakes. Passports, utility bills, bank passbooks, and gas connection paperwork may all be used as proof of residency.

Voter identification cards will be provided after around two weeks following approval, according to the ECI, which has encouraged eligible citizens—especially new voters and those who were previously overlooked—to submit Form-6 applications as soon as possible.

Chennai has almost 40 lakh registered voters, and 99.8% of SIR forms have already been digitalized, according to GCC statistics. However, according to ECI norms, only around 70% of voters returned the forms; the other submissions were digitized under categories like absent or moved. However, several voters have complained about technical issues with the internet site, such as issues completing Form-6 electronically, which has forced them to submit it by hand. As the finalization of the electoral register moves forward, authorities are anticipated to resolve these difficulties.