What is the Election Commission's Form-7, who can fill it out, and when is it used? Learn everything here.

Form-7 is an official form issued by the Election Commission of India. It is used to remove a person's name from the electoral roll or to register an objection to an entry.

The opposition has raised questions about the Election Commission regarding the special intensive electoral roll revision. The opposition alleges that during this process, which is underway in 12 states and union territories, Form-7 is being misused to remove the names of a large number of eligible voters from the voter list. Calling it a serious threat to the democratic process, the opposition has demanded immediate intervention and an independent inquiry from the Election Commission. Regarding Form-7, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, claimed that the form is being misused to remove the names of living and eligible voters. He stated that this is particularly targeting marginalized communities. The Congress has demanded that all data related to Form-7 be made public and that the process in suspicious cases be halted. So, let's tell you what the Election Commission's Form-7 is, who can fill it out, and when it is used.

What is the Election Commission's Form-7?

Form-7 is an official form issued by the Election Commission of India. It is used to remove a person's name from the electoral roll or to register an objection to an entry. This form falls under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Its main purpose is to keep the electoral roll accurate and updated, so that the names of deceased, duplicate, or ineligible voters are not included in the list.

When is Form-7 used?

Form-7 can only be filled out for valid reasons. For example, if a voter has died, has permanently moved to another area, has their name registered in more than one place on the voter list, or if a name has been incorrectly included in the list, or if the person is not eligible to vote.  In addition, a voter can also fill out Form-7 themselves to have their name removed due to relocation or other reasons.

Who can fill out Form-7?

Anyone can fill out Form-7. From ordinary voters to representatives of political parties, anyone can file an objection using this form. However, according to the rules, the responsibility of providing proof during the claims and objections period rests with the person filling out the form. There are also provisions for penalties under the law for providing false information.

What are the opposition's allegations regarding Form-7?

The opposition party, Congress, claims that pre-printed Form-7 applications are being prepared in large numbers and handed over to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in an organized manner. The party says that this is being used to remove the names of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, and senior citizens from the voter list. In many cases, the people whose names were used on the forms have themselves denied filling them out. In light of this, Congress has demanded that the processing of all suspicious Form-7s without valid identification and proof be immediately stopped. They also demand that no voter's name be removed without personal verification.