The story so far: In the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), bulk applications are being filed for the deletion of names from the draft electoral rolls. On January 29, the Congress, in a letter to the Election Commission of India (EC), alleged that the form was being misused through “systemic and coordinated efforts” to delete names of eligible voters and embolden BJP’s efforts to wrongfully gain electoral advantage. The Hindu’s reporting from Rajasthan and Gujarat also found individuals who said they had not submitted the Form 7 applications purportedly signed by them.
What is Form 7?
Form 7 is used for objecting to the inclusion of another person’s or one’s own name on the electoral roll on specific grounds such as death, duplication or shifting of residence. It can also be used to object to voters who are ineligible due to age, citizenship or misrepresentation. As per Section 13(2) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, framed under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, “every objection to the inclusion of a name in the roll shall be (a) in Form 7 and (b) preferred only by a person whose name is already included in that roll”. Booth Level Agents (BLAs) can also file objections. Earlier, only persons from the same booth/station were allowed to file an objection but in 2022, the EC amended Form 7 to allow any voter in a constituency to object, widening its ambit. However, to prevent misuse, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is required to mandatorily verify all claims if an individual files more than five objections.
