The Election Commission of India has opened a second window for eligible voters whose names did not make it into the draft electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. If you were left out, you can still get back in.

The poll body has specifically targeted people who were marked absent, had migrated, were recorded as deceased, or were placed in duplicate categories during the drive. Because enumeration forms were not received from many of them, their names were not included in the draft list. Those eligible voters can now submit enumeration forms again so their names can be added to the final electoral roll.

The directive applies to Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana and Nagaland. The Commission has also instructed state Chief Electoral Officers to display the ASDD voter lists again at the relevant polling stations, panchayat buildings and urban local body offices, and to state the reasons why certain names are missing.

What it means for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Both states are part of the order, which means voters in these two states who were left off the draft list now have a fresh route to the final roll. State election officials have been told to run a wide awareness campaign so that no eligible voter loses this opportunity. The draft lists are also being made available as PDFs on the CEO websites of the concerned states, so residents can check their status without visiting an office.

The letter announcing the decision was written by Election Commission Secretary Pawan Diwan to the Chief Electoral Officers of all affected states. The core message is simple, and the Commission made sure to spell it out.

Not finding your name on the voter list does not mean re-enrolment has been denied. If you apply through the prescribed process and prove your eligibility, your name can be added to the final list.

How to get back on the voter list

The process runs through forms, and the Commission has laid out several ways to file them. Here is what the order says you need to do, depending on your situation.

Step one: get the right form. Enter your old EPIC number on the ECI website or the ECINET app and download the enumeration form. If you already have a partially filled form, it can be generated again on ECINET. Forms can also be sent to you through WhatsApp, email or SMS, and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are expected to visit homes door to door to hand them over.

Step two: if you lived at the same address earlier. Voters who were at the same residence before but could not submit the form in time need to attach an Annexure-B declaration. This statement should explain why the enumeration form was not submitted earlier, and it goes along with the enumeration form itself.

Step three: if you moved within the same state. Voters who shifted to another area within the state do not need to file Form-8. Instead, they should submit an enumeration form that carries the new address and assembly constituency details, along with an Annexure-C declaration and a proof of address. The ECI also suggests contacting the BLO of the new area for help. In the ECINET app, the ‘mBook a Call with BLO’ option is available for this purpose.

Step four: if you have no permanent home. People without a house do not have to produce address documents if they lack them. A field verification report prepared by the BLO will be sufficient in such cases.

Step five: if you already filed Form-6. Anyone who submitted Form-6 for new enrolment during the SIR process does not need to file the enumeration form again.

Once the forms reach the system, the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will examine each application. They will verify eligibility and ordinary residence before taking a decision. Approved applications will be placed separately so they can be added to the final roll. The Commission has directed that voters who are re-included should get back the EPIC number they already had, rather than a new one.

For voters who are still unsure whether their name is missing, the displayed lists at polling stations, panchayat offices and urban local body offices, along with the PDF versions on the CEO websites, are the places to check first. The Commission has also asked officials to explain the reasons behind any missing names, which should help voters understand exactly what needs to be fixed.