2.73 crore Gen Z voters added to electoral rolls since 2025: ECI

As many as 2.73 crore Gen Z voters in the 18 to 28 age group have been added to electoral rolls since the Election Commission of India (ECI) began its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in 2025, according to ECI officials. The figure comes amid a row over the ECI adding a declaration to the form for new voters seeking to enroll in the electoral rolls and making the registration process difficult.

“As per the amendment in Section 14 of the RP Act, 1950, in 2021, read with Section 19 of the RP Act, 1950, any person whose name is not on the electoral rolls or attains 18 years of age on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1 can register as a voter without waiting for any kind of revision, as a part of regular updation of electoral rolls. Both Special Summary Revision (SSR) and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) are done under Section 21(3) of the RP Act, 1950 and are optional. There is no legal requirement to hold both together,” the officials said.

The four qualifying dates were introduced after an amendment to Section 14(b) of the Representation of the People Act. An eligible citizen who has completed, or is completing, 18 years on any of the four dates can submit an advance application in Form 6. The application is processed in the relevant quarter in which the applicant attains the qualifying age.

After the change in the online form, it's not only the existing voters who must show details of their parents in SIR to remain on the electoral rolls; those seeking inclusion in the voter list also have to cite details of the exercise. By issuing instructions, the ECI has made it mandatory to attach SIR details of parents for new voters filling Form 6 for inclusion in the electoral rolls. The official underlined that the declaration was added through instructions and that Form 6 has not been amended.

The declaration was added in the Bihar SIR rolled out in June last year. New voters were made to file the declaration along with Form 6. ECI officials said that since June 24, 2025, 2.37 crore new voters in the 18 to 28 age category have been added to the voter list across India. As of now, there are 17.38 crore voters in that age bracket.

Daily SIR bulletins for Bihar showed the forms filled along with the declaration, an ECI functionary said. “It helps in mapping electors and reduces the documents the new voters need to submit along with their applications,” the officer added. If a person fills out Form 6 online, he or she cannot proceed further till the declaration is filled.

The Congress on Thursday alleged that Gen Z is being targeted for exclusion and pressed for its demand that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must resign immediately.

Sources have revealed that the SIRs in 12 States, including Bihar and Assam, had the approval of the Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner. The decision was unanimous. Sources said that the Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner together approved the SIR Order for Bihar, SIR Order for Assam, SIR Order for 12 States and Union Territories, and SIR Order for 19 States/Union Territories.

It further stated that the approved SIR orders also include a declaration form, which must be submitted along with Form 6 to add new voters. This move is intended to reduce paperwork and simplify the registration process for citizens.