India is one of the world’s largest democratic countries, which constitutes of millions of people. Given the diversity that the country sustains, there are innumerable political parties that have been formed in every state, district or town. Elections are an elaborate affair in India and also a very integral part of the democracy. Elections in India are held once every 5 years. As responsible citizens of the nation, it is our duty to exercise our right to vote. However, since it involves very large part of the population, elections are never an easy affair. There are innumerable instances of electoral fraud that take place during elections, beside many other such malpractices. Hence, to smoothen things to an extent, the Election Commission of India has introduced the system of Voter ID cards.
What Is a Voter ID Card?
A Voter ID Card, also known as the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is a photo identity card that is issued by the Election Commission of India to all individuals who are eligible to vote. The primary purpose of this card is to improve the accuracy of the electoral roll and to help prevent cases of electoral fraud. Additionally, it also serves as an identification proof when individual’s cast their vote. This card is commonly known by other names such as an election card, voter’s card, Voter ID, etc.
How to Apply for a Voter ID Card?
Customers can apply for their voter ID either online, offline or through semi-online methods.
Voter Card Online Method:
Citizens can follow the method mentioned below to apply for a Online Voter ID:
- Applicant have to visit the national website of election commission and click on National Voters’ Services Portal.
- On clicking, citizens will be directed to a new page, where they have to click on ‘Apply online for registration of new voter id’.
- The online form will open and applicants have to fill in all the required details. Form 6 is divided into 4 sections and the applicant has to fill in all of them.
- After filling in the details, applicants can click on ‘Submit’. If they have not completed the form and wish to finish it later, they can click on ‘Save’ and if they want to change the entire information, they can click on ‘Reset’. There is a upload button on the top of the form, which applicants can use to upload all the required documents.
- In addition to this, they have to also provide a photo. After all the documents are uploaded, applicants will be sent a reference number through which they can check Voter ID Status.
Offline Voters ID Method:
If customers cannot or do not want to apply online, then they can follow the method mentioned below to apply for a voter ID offline:
- Applicants have to visit the State Election office and request for a Form 6.
- After filling in the necessary details and providing all relevant documents such as Identity proof and address proof, customers can submit the form to the office and after verification of all details, customers will be issued with the Election ID after a specified period of time.
Semi-Online Election ID:
Citizens can apply for a voter ID using semi-online method as well. To apply, they have to:
- Visit the national election commission or state election commission website and download Form 6.
- Fill the form with relevant details along with the required documents.
- Submit the form at the Election Office by either post or in person.
Voter ID is only issued after necessary verification of all documents and details provided by the applicant.
Documents Required For Voter ID Card:
While applying for a Voters ID , you have to submit the following documents:
- Identity Proof.
- Address Proof.
- Photograph.
Voter ID Card Eligibility:
In order to apply for/obtain a Voter’s ID card, individuals must conform to the following criteria:
- Applicant must not be below 18 years of age.
- However, applicants who belong to any specified special category and who are financially bankrupt, (even if they are above 18 years of age) are not eligible to apply for a Voter Id card.
Uses of a Election Card:
The Voter ID card is of great use to every Indian citizen for a variety of reasons:
- The card serves as an accepted form of personal identity.
- The Voter ID Card acts as an acknowledgement that the card holder is a registered voter.
- The card includes several identification features like the applicant’s signature, photograph, fingerprints, etc., which provide added assurance for the card holder.
- In case of an election, the card carries provisions (by way of marking) to prevent the holder from voting multiple times.
- The Voter ID card can be designed to suit electoral requirements of a population with low literacy population.
- It is especially helpful as a form of identification for voters with no fixed address.
Track Voter ID Application Status Online:
Citizens can track the status of their application on the website of the State Election Commission. All Indians states have a State Election Commission, which means that every state has an official CEO website. On this website, applicants can track the status of their Voter’s ID application.
To track the status, they have to:
- Visit the electoral CEO official website.
- Click on ‘Know the Status of Your Application for Enrolment’. A separate window will open asking for some basic details of the form such as the Form number.
- You can also apply on the National Voters’ Services Portal and click on ‘Search your Name in electoral roll’. When the link opens, you will get 2 options to track your application:
- First Option – Write and submit the application number or EPIC number and state number. This will help you get your EPIC card number.
- Second Option – Submit some details to get your Voter ID card status. You have to enter the following details:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Gender
- State
- Father’s name
- District constituency
Applicants can also use their reference id to track their application status on the National Voters’ Services Portal.
How to Register for Voter ID ?
Customers can register for a Voter ID by following the steps mentioned in the application process above. Applicants can register themselves as voters by procuring Form 6 and filling up the form. This form will have to be submitted either online or at one of the Electoral Offices along with the necessary documents. Once everything has been verified, customers will receive their Voter ID by post. Customers are advised to check their Voter ID for mistakes once they receive this document so as to prevent issues later on.
Online Voter Registration
The online registration process for a Voter ID is much simpler and easier compared to filling up complex forms and waiting in the queue for hours. An individual can visit the website of Election Commission of India (ECI) and follow few steps to apply for a Voter ID Card. There are many Indian citizens who are still not aware of this facility. When you choose the traditional method of the application process, chances are you will discover spelling or numerical mistakes in your Voter ID at a later stage. The online application is far superior, faster, and a simpler method of application that lets you track the status as well.
The Voter ID is a necessity for the upcoming assembly elections. If you do not have a Voter ID card, you can follow these instructions for the application procedure:
- Visit the National Voters’ Services Portal’s website http://www.nvsp.in/
- Choose form 6 provided under the ‘Forms for registration in E-Roll’ option on the left side of the screen
- Under ‘National Services’ Click on ‘Apply online for registration of new voter’
- Choose the name of the State and Assembly Constituency based on your locality
- Enter your Personal Detail:
- Name
- Gender
- Date of Birth
- Place of Birth
- Father’s/Mother’s/ Husband’s Name
- Address
- Family member’s details (if they already have a Voter ID Card)
- Provide scanned copy of the following documents:
- Your photograph
- Identity proof
- Address proof
- Enter the Declaration Details:
- Click ‘Save’ to continue with the edits later or ‘Submit’
Once you have submitted your application, you will be provided with an application reference ID. You will need to make a note of the ID to track the status of your application. You will also receive a text message with the ID for your reference. Based on your application, a verification will be carried out by the ECI’s representative to approve your application.
What to do if your Voter ID card is not received?
If you haven’t received the Voter ID Card or any notification, please follow the steps to check the status:
- Visit – http://www.nvsp.in/Forms/Forms/trackstatus
- Enter your reference number for online application (received while submitting form 6)
- Click ‘Track Status’
- You will see the status of your application
If the verification process is taking time and you haven’t received the card after the application, you are recommended to visit the DEO with your reference number.
How to Verify Voter ID?
Customers can verify their Voter ID by using their Voter ID number. In case they suspect that their ID is fake or defunct, they can always verify the same both online or offline. They will have to visit the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer of their state, and click on the relevant link, provide their Voter ID details. By doing so, they can check if their name is present in the electoral roll. This can also be done offline wherein customers can repeat the above procedure at the Election Commission’s Office. Customers are also advised to ensure that they have their Application number that they would have received at the time of applying for their Voter ID, in case they wish to verify certain details at a later date.
Voter ID Card Correction in Electoral roll
The ECI provides all eligible voters a Voter ID card which has details like their name, address, etc. The number of voters in a particular constituency are reflected in the electoral roll, and any mistakes which are in your card are likely to show up in the list as well. Individuals who wish to change/correct their name in their voter ID can do so by making use of certain forms which the ECI has created.
If your name is wrong, all you need to do is fill out Form 8, highlighting the corrections to be made in your voter ID. This form needs to be submitted along with relevant supporting documents to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of your assembly constituency. Once submitted, the ERO will take relevant steps to ensure corrections are incorporated into your voter ID.
The form can be downloaded from the official website of the Election Commission of India, or one could request for changes by submitting it online as well.
Fake or Defunct Voter ID Cards:
Like many other documents, fake or defunct Voter Id cards are also quite prevalent in India. These cards have little or no reliability and cannot be used by an individual to cast a vote. However, these cards are often misused for other purposes where a personal identification is required, for instance, to purchase a SIM card.
Fields Included In a Voter ID Card:
A voter ID card is an efficient and widely accepted form of personal identification in India. Not only does it facilitate one to cast their vote during an election but also acts as an identity proof and address proof for a variety of purposes. This card is issued by the Election Commission of India to all eligible Voters and comprises of the following fields:
- A hologram sticker.
- Serial number.
- Photograph of the card holder.
- Name of elector / card holder.
- Card holder’s parent’s Name.
- Card holder’s gender.
- Elector’s / card holder’s age as on the date of issue of the card.
Elector / card holder’s complete residential address is provided on the rear side of the card, along with the signature of the issuing authority.
Why Is It Important To Have?
The Voter ID Card is an important document for Indian citizens for a variety of reasons. Some of them are:
- Proof of Identity – The Voter ID card is an important document for Indian citizens as it is a valid form of an identification proof. The Voter ID card is accepted at various offices and institutions that require the individual to furnish a valid form of identification, like insurance companies, online travel companies, gas companies, banks, etc. Also, almost all government run agencies, insurance providers, claim firms, mortgage providers like banks ask applicants to provide a Voter ID number in order to process their request.
- Casting Votes – The Voter ID card is essential if you wish to cast your vote during any election. If you hold a valid Voter ID card and your name is present in the electoral roll of your local area, you can cast your vote.
- Registration In Electoral Roll Of A Non-Domicile State – The Voter ID serves yet another purpose of allowing individuals to register their name in the electoral roll of a state other than their state of domicile. This is especially helpful if a person has migrated from another state and wishes to enrol in the electoral list of his local area / constituency.
Why should you vote?
Voting is the right of every Indian citizen and as citizens living in a democratic society, voting is essential to maintain the tenets of this type of rule. Voting ensures that the leader at the centre or state is someone who is trusted by citizens and is believed to be capable by all citizens. The voting process is carried out in different stages, right from panchayat elections to the elections conducted to choose a Prime Minister for the country.
However, in order to vote, customers must be eligible. In India, citizens above the age of 18 can vote, regardless of caste and gender. In addition to this they must also possess a Voter ID without which they cannot vote. This is a document that serves as an Identity proof as well as Address proof. However, these cards are not issued to those who are bankrupt or mentally challenged.
Things to keep in mind while applying for a New Voter ID
Voter ID is one of the most important documents needed for Indian citizens as it enables them to carry out their voting duty. Voting is the foundation of a democratic country and it is imperative for every individual to do so. There are certain things to keep in mind prior to applying for a voter ID.
- Applicants will have to be above the age of 18 as it is legally impossible for them to vote otherwise.
- They should be of sound mind and should not be bankrupt.
- They should fill out the relevant forms such as Form 6 for application and ensure that they provide relevant original documents.
- Individuals should apply for a Voter ID only through government websites or centres or those that have been approved by the government, else they might just receive a fake document.
- Individuals should ensure that all details in their application forms are correct, such as the spelling of their name, birth date and so on. If this is not corrected in the beginning, their Voter ID will have the wrong information printed on it.
- Applicants should also ensure that the information that is being provided is legally correct and is not fake.
- Once applicants receive their Voter ID, they will have to check the document to see if all the information is correct.
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