Form 8
Also called: Form 8 electoral roll · Topic: Elections and the Electoral System · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Form 8 is the application a voter who is already on the electoral roll (the voters' list for a constituency) uses to change their entry. Voters use it to report a shifting of residence, whether to a new house in the same constituency or to a different constituency. They also use it to correct entries, such as a wrong name, age or address. It is prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which are made under the Representation of the People Act 1950. Section 22 of that Act lets the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), the official who keeps a constituency's roll, transpose an entry, which means moving the name to the new address instead of deleting it. So Form 8 is the lawful way for a voter who has moved. It keeps their voting history intact, and they do not have to register again as a new voter.
Example
A voter enrolled in one Delhi constituency moves to a rented flat in another constituency. They file Form 8. The ERO removes the name from the old roll and adds it at the new address. Nobody is registered in two places, and the voter is never treated as a first-time applicant.
Don't confuse with
- Form 6: This is for including a new elector, a person enrolling for the first time. An existing voter who files it must declare they are new, which is a false declaration.
- Form 7: This is for objecting to someone's inclusion or deleting a name, for example a voter who has died or a duplicate entry. It does not move or correct an entry.