KBS SIDHU URGES PUNJAB’S LEFT-OUT VOTERS TO ACT NOW AND FILE FORM 6
Face2News/Chandigarh
Punjab voters whose names are missing from the electoral roll after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) should not wait for the publication of the final roll on 12 October 2026 to secure their vote, and do not lose their right after that date either, since they can apply for inclusion in Form 6 at any time, KBS Sidhu, former Special Chief Secretary, Punjab, said here today.
Addressing eligible voters who may have been left out of the SIR, KBS Sidhu said the right to be registered flows from Article 326 of the Constitution and belongs to every citizen who is eighteen years of age and ordinarily resident in the constituency. “The right is a continuing one. There is no limitation on it and nothing lapses with the passage of time. It pauses only after the last date for filing nominations, until that election is over,” he said.
Punjab’s draft roll was published on 13 August and the period for claims and objections closed on 12 September. Pending notices are now being disposed of.
KBS Sidhu advised voters to take three steps:
• Check the draft roll now and the final roll on 12 October, for every adult in the household.
• Reply to any notice. Under the Election Commission’s latest directions, the Booth Level Officer (BLO) is to collect documents at the voter’s home, and help desks are functioning at the District Election Officers’ offices.
• If the name is missing, file Form 6, online or on paper, with a signed note of the earlier enrolment, and keep the acknowledgement. The Commission’s letter of 1 October 2026 itself directs BLOs to help such voters fill Form 6.He cautioned voters against assuming that someone else would do this for them. “Do not wait for any political party, any BLO or any Booth Level Agent to come to your door. If nobody comes, go yourself. Time spent on television debates, without first having done this basic diligence about your own vote, will only complicate matters later,” KBS Sidhu said.
KBS Sidhu expressed disappointment that no political party in Punjab appeared to have reached out to the ordinary voter during the revision. “This was the moment for the parties to activate tens of thousands of Booth Level Agents in every village and ward. Nothing of the kind seems to be happening. Party workers are busy retweeting their leaders. That may be good for the leaders, but it will not save a single vote,” he said.
Referring to the proceedings in the Supreme Court concerning the Election Commission, KBS Sidhu said the voter’s entitlement did not depend on their outcome. “Whatever the Court decides, on election day the polling officer will look only for your name on his list.”
