CHENNAI: Confusion reigned at several polling booths during the special voter enrolment camps, with many first-time voters unsure whether the declaration form was mandatory.
The Election Department has clarified that the declaration form is compulsory for all voters, including those aged 18 and above, for inclusion in the electoral roll.
The camps, organised for the inclusion and deletion of names, were held across the State on January 27 and 28. On the first day, applicants in cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai reported receiving conflicting instructions from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) about the necessity of the declaration form.
Between December 19 and 27, a total of 1,85,277 Form 6 applications from new voters were submitted, alongside 1,726 Form 7 applications.
M Annadurai, a West Mambalam resident who visited Saidapet Boys Higher Secondary School to submit Form 6 for the Saidapet Assembly constituency, shared his frustration.
“I live with my parents, but I don’t know what to fill in for the part number. My mother lived in Kodambakkam in 2002, but has forgotten her booth name and part number. The declaration asks for parents’ names, EPIC numbers, part numbers, and constituencies —similar to enumeration forms. It’s very confusing. I filled in what I knew and left the rest blank,” he said.
A Pavithra, who attended the same centre with her husband, faced similar challenges. “I have lost my parents. To avoid complications with enumeration forms, BLOs advised me to apply with Form 6. But now the same issues are arising with the declaration form,” she said.
A Booth Level Agent in Saidapet noted, “BLOs have both Form 6 and the declaration form but lack proper instructions on their use. The ECI must issue clear guidelines across the State.”
In Madurai, a DMK Booth Level Agent added, “The Election Commission of India has made the declaration form mandatory for Form 6 submissions. Yet, most BLOs told new voters aged 18 and above that it was not required during Saturday’s camp.”
When contacted, Election Department officials reiterated that the declaration form is mandatory for all voters, including first-time voters, and assured that clear instructions would be issued to all District Election Officers.