The Election Commission of India has rejected allegations that the registration of young first-time voters has been deliberately delayed, following reports of differences between Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over the annual electoral-roll revision process.
As per the latest news reports, the annual Special Summary Revision (SSR) process has effectively remained stalled nationwide since 2024, raising concerns about the timely inclusion of citizens becoming eligible to vote. The report said Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections over the issue with Kumar.
The Commission, however, said on Friday that there has been no deliberate delay in adding young voters. It stated that since the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) began in 2025, around 2.73 crore voters aged between 18 and 28 have been included in electoral rolls.
The Commission also pointed to provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, under which eligible citizens turning 18 on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1 can apply for registration without waiting for an SSR exercise. Eligible applicants can submit advance applications through Form 6A, with verification undertaken during the relevant quarter.
The controversy follows earlier reports that the two Election Commissioners had raised several objections concerning Form 6 changes, additions and deletions from electoral rolls, and access to the Commission’s central database. The Commission has maintained that its decisions were taken in accordance with law.
The issue has also drawn renewed criticism from opposition parties, amid continuing debate over electoral-roll revision procedures and the timely registration of young voters.
