Hyderabad Voters struggle as Forms 6, 7, 8 remain unavailable
HYDERABAD: Forms 6, 7 and 8 required for notices, objections, complaints, new voter registration and address changes are not available in many places, leaving voters struggling during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Election Commission officials had directed that the forms be kept with every Booth Level Officer (BLO). However, the directive has not been implemented in many places.
The state Chief Electoral Office assigned the printing of notices and other forms to District Election Officers (DEOs). The DEOs, in turn, entrusted the printing of the forms constituency-wise to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
EROs focus on notices as voters search for forms
EROs have largely confined themselves to printing notices. They have instead directed Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and BLO supervisors to somehow arrange the forms required by voters.
Officials are reluctant to bear the cost involved in printing the forms, resulting in their non-availability.
At village and ward meetings held recently in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, officials reportedly told people that the forms were unavailable and advised them to apply through MeeSeva or online. Political parties also raised objections over the issue.
Recently, it was reported that informal instructions were issued to tahsildars in one district not to print Forms 6, 7 and 8 separately, but to ask voters to obtain them from internet or photocopy centres. As a result, the forms are reportedly unavailable anywhere in that district.
A BLO told Eenadu that during distribution of enumeration forms as part of the SIR and the survey, only 10 to 20 copies of Form 6 were supplied at some places in the district. The number was not sufficient, the BLO said.
The BLO also said Form 7 and Form 6, along with declaration forms, were required but were not available. The requirement for these forms is particularly high in Greater Hyderabad.
New voters need Form 6 for registration
Those who turn 18 by October 1 this year are eligible to register as new voters.
Election Commission officials recently announced that 73.39 lakh ASD (Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate) voters had been removed from the draft electoral roll. Officials advised that if any voter was removed by mistake, the person could register again as a new voter using Form 6.
In several places, voters were included in the ASD list without enumeration forms being distributed. People are questioning how they can register again as new voters if Form 6 and the required declaration forms are not available.
Several voters received enumeration forms at their previous residential addresses and filled them in there. Those who want to shift their registration to their current address need Form 8. The same form is required to correct spelling errors in names.
These forms are also currently unavailable in many places.
Form 7 is required to raise objections or file complaints seeking the removal of voters whose names are considered doubtful in the draft electoral roll.
