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Politics
Maharashtra CEO proposes removal of first‑time voter declaration from Form‑6
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 19 Oct 2026, 01:15 AM
👁 20
The Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra has suggested amending Form‑6 to eliminate the declaration required from first‑time voters, citing administrative simplification.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra has put forward a proposal to modify Form‑6, the document used for voter registration, by removing the mandatory declaration currently required from voters casting a ballot for the first time.
According to the proposal, the removal aims to streamline the registration process and reduce paperwork for both election officials and new voters. The CEO argues that the existing declaration adds little substantive value and can be omitted without compromising the integrity of the electoral roll.
The suggested amendment will be forwarded to the State Election Commission for review. If approved, the change could be implemented ahead of the next scheduled elections, potentially easing the onboarding of new voters across the state.
Stakeholders, including political parties and civil‑society groups, have been invited to comment on the draft before a final decision is taken, ensuring that any concerns about voter verification are addressed.
According to the proposal, the removal aims to streamline the registration process and reduce paperwork for both election officials and new voters. The CEO argues that the existing declaration adds little substantive value and can be omitted without compromising the integrity of the electoral roll.
The suggested amendment will be forwarded to the State Election Commission for review. If approved, the change could be implemented ahead of the next scheduled elections, potentially easing the onboarding of new voters across the state.
Stakeholders, including political parties and civil‑society groups, have been invited to comment on the draft before a final decision is taken, ensuring that any concerns about voter verification are addressed.