STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Are you 17+? If so, you will not have to wait for January 1 to apply for the enrolment of your name in the voter list. The Election Commission of India offers you four qualifying dates a year – on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 – to enrol your name in the voter list. Earlier, fresh voters could apply for enrolment only on January 1 every year.
Making this clear before the media today, Assam Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nitin Khade said, "The Election Commission stressed online application for enrolment in an electoral roll rather than the physical one. The Election Commission of India appeals to the voters to link their Aadhaar numbers with their electoral voter cards, though it is not mandatory. The modified registration form for enrolment on voter list seeks Aadhaar details also."
On the amendments made, Khade said, "The authorities amended the Section 20 (subsection 6) of the Representation of People's Act, 1950 for gender neutral provision for service and special electors i.e. the word 'spouse' substituted the word 'wife'."
Khade said, "Form 6 is for inclusion of new names in electoral rolls, form 7 is for deletion of entries of electoral rolls, form 8 is for correction, updation of entries, shifting of residence within or across the constituency, replacement of EPIC (Electoral Photo Identity Cards) and marking of persons with disabilities. Form 6B is for the submission of Aadhaar number by existing electors for authentication of electoral roll data." The CEO will formally launch the programme of rolling out new electoral registration forms and the collection of Aadhaar data from electors for linking and authentication of electoral roll data on August 1.
He said, "On January 5, 2022, the state had 4,79,133 electors in the age group 18-19, and on July 30, 2022, the number of electors in this age group is 6,05,422. The total electors as of January 5, 2022, are 2,37,10,834. The number of electors rose to 2,38,25,522 as of July 30, 2022."
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