Election Commission extends voter-roll objections deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra

The Election Commission of India has announced revised procedures for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, extending the period for claims and objections in Delhi and Maharashtra. Following a full-bench meeting on September 26, the Commission said the deadline would run until October 12 in Maharashtra and October 30 in Delhi. The decisions were announced amid reports of disagreement and controversy surrounding the revision exercise.

The poll panel also clarified the use of the declaration attached to Form 6, which is used for fresh voter registration. It said the declaration would have to be completed in that format only during the Special Intensive Revision. The earlier format would continue to apply for new registrations outside the exercise.

The Commission further said electors classified as “unmapped” or flagged for a “logical discrepancy” would not be issued notices for hearings. Instead, Booth Level Officers would visit their homes and collect the documents required for the electoral-roll process. The announcement did not provide further details in the source material about the criteria used to classify electors under either category or about the documents that would be sought during the visits.

The ECI also approved a special committee to review access to the ECINet App, its unified digital platform for voter services and election-related information. The committee will include an expert from the Indian Institute of Technology. The new measures address both the administration of the revision and access to the Commission’s digital platform.

The extended deadlines give voters and other stakeholders in Delhi and Maharashtra additional time to submit claims and objections. The source material does not state how many electors are affected or when the committee will submit its review.