How to Register to Vote in India (2023 & 2024)

The world’s largest democracy prevails in India. The heart of democracy lies in the utilizing and acknowledging the ”right to vote” by the citizens. These rights bring the power and responsibility of citizens to shape the future of the country resulting in defining a better future for the country. Citizens choose the leaders as their representatives to run the country for making the decisions for the development, and growth of the country. There is a whole process through which people are registered as voters in India. This voter list is updated from time to time. To be registered as a voter in India a person has to attain the age of 18 years to be eligible to vote. People can apply offline and online to be registered as voters in India. They have to submit documents including Aadhar card, address proof, etc. At the time of elections, government officials come door to door to add or remove the names of voters from their lists.

How to Register to Vote in India?

Electoral rolls: An electoral roll is like a big list that has the names of all the people who can vote in an election. If you're a citizen and allowed to vote, your name should be on this list. They make this list for different areas, called Assembly Constituencies.

How to Register: The Election Commission is in charge of making a big list of people who can vote, and they do it through a process called intensive revision. This means that every five years, official people called enumerators go to each house, knock on the door, and write down the names of the people who live there and can vote. They do this to make sure the list is up to date. But wait, what if you move to a new place or if you're not on the list? No worries! Every year, there's something called a summary revision. During this time, if you're not on the list or if you've moved, you can apply to be added or get your name changed to the right place. You just need to fill out a form called Form-6.

Here's an important rule: You can only be on the list once. You can't be on the list in two different places; that's against the rules. So, if you've moved, make sure to remove your name from the old place and add it to the new place on the list. Sometimes, people pass away, or they move away from where they used to live. In those cases, their names are removed from the list. It's important to keep the list accurate.

Now, when they do the intensive revision, they first make a draft list and put it up at polling booths. This is to check if your name is there and if everything is correct. If something's wrong or missing, you can fill out Form No. 6 to add your name, Form No. 7 to remove someone else's name, or Form No. 8 to fix any mistakes in your details. If you moved within the same area, you can use Form No. 8A to change your location on the list. The summary revision happens every year. During this time, they put up the current list at polling booths again. If there are any issues or changes, you can use the same forms to sort them out. They look into all these requests and make a new, updated list.

But here's a crucial thing to remember: To get your name on the list in time for an election, you need to apply at least ten days before the last day for candidates to apply. This gives them enough time to check everything and invite objections if needed. If you apply later, your name might not make it onto the list for that election.

So, if you want to vote, make sure your name is on the list, and if there's a change, use the right forms and apply in time. It's all part of making sure elections are fair and everyone's voice is heard.

What Are The Eligibility Criteria to Register to Vote In India?

Voting is a crucial responsibility for citizens in a democratic country. It's the way people pick their representatives in a specific area. In India, the world's largest democracy, voting determines which political party will lead the country for five years and which will be in opposition. Everyone, from the Prime Minister at the national level to the Chief Minister at the state level, is chosen through elections.

Registering to vote in India has become easier because the Election Commission now allows online voter registration. If you're an Indian citizen who turned 18 years old by January 1, 2020, you can register online this year through the official ECI website.

Here are the eligibility criteria:

• You must be a citizen of India.

• You should have turned 18 years old by January 1 of the year when the electoral roll is updated. 

• You should be listed in the electoral roll of India or in the area where you live.

• If you meet these criteria, you can easily register to vote in India using the online platform provided by the Election Commission. It's a simple and important way to participate in your country's democracy.

Document Required to Register to Vote in India 

The first thing you need to do to register to vote in India is to fill out Form 6. You can do this either online or offline. If you choose to do it offline, you'll have to go in person to the appropriate authority and submit the application along with copies of all the necessary documents. Alternatively, you can send the application by post to the Level Officer of your polling area.

For online registration, follow these steps:

Step 1:-

1. Visit the National Voters Service Portal.

2. Click on "Apply Online for Registration of a new elector."

3. A new window will open with Form 6.

4. Complete the form and click the "Submit" button.

Step 2: Document Submission

When submitting Form 6, make sure to attach the following attested/certified documents:

• ID Proof: You'll need to provide ID proof like a Passport, Driving License, PAN Card, or Student Identification Card.

• Address Proof: To register, you must have lived at your current address for at least six months. You can use any of the following as valid address proof:

1. Bank/Kisan/Post Office Pass Book

2. Ration Card

3. Passport

4. Driving License

5. Income Tax Assessment Order

6. Recent Rental Agreement

7. The latest Telephone/Electricity/Gas Connection/Water Bill is in your name at the given address. You can also use any mail or letter received from the Indian Postal Department with your name and address.

Age Proof: If you are between 18 and 22 years old, you need to provide proof of your age. You can use any of the following documents:

• Birth certificate issued by Municipal Authority or District Office of the Register of Births and Deaths, or a Baptism certificate.

• Birth certificate issued by the Government or a recognized school.

• Mark the sheet with your date of birth (for class 10 pass applicants).

• Mark sheets of class 5 or 8 (if the date of birth is printed on them).

• Passport

• PAN Card

• Driving License

• Aadhar Card issued by UIDAI

What is the Registration Process to Vote in India?

Online:

To register online for voting, you need to follow some simple steps. First, you must fill out Form 6, which you can easily download from the NVSP website. Once you've completed the form, you should submit it to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in your area.

The ERO will check the information you provided in the form, making sure it's all correct and complete. If everything looks good, they will add your name to the voter list.

It's important to know that there are three main categories of voters:

General Electors: These are regular citizens who live in India and are eligible to vote.

Overseas Electors (NRI): This category is for Indian citizens who live abroad but still want to vote in Indian elections. They can also use Form 6A for this purpose.

Service Electors: This category is for members of the armed forces, central armed police forces, and state police personnel who are serving outside their home constituencies. They have a separate process for registration.

So, whether you're a regular voter, an overseas Indian, or a service personnel, the process starts with filling out Form 6 and submitting it to the Electoral Registration Officer to get your name on the voter list.

Offline:

To get your voter ID, follow these steps:

• Visit the nearest Booth Level Officer (BLO) to get Form 6.

• Fill out the form and submit it along with your Aadhar card and a document proving your birthdate, like your graduation certificate. If you don't have these documents, you should provide an affidavit explaining why.

• Include two passport-sized photographs of yourself.

• You'll also need to submit a photocopy of a family member's voter ID. If none of your family members has one, you can use a neighbor's voter ID.

• Once you've given all these documents to the BLO, the verification department will check everything. If everything is in order, they'll issue your voter ID. It's important to follow these steps to ensure you can vote in elections.

How to Check Voter Registration in India

The Indian government has set up a special website dedicated to Voter ID information. This website has all the details you need about your Voter ID application. Checking the status of your Voter ID online is now super easy. You just have to visit your state's official election commission website.

When you go online to check your Voter ID status, make sure the information you enter matches what you provided during your application. If there are any differences or mistakes, you might not get the right status, and your request could be unsuccessful.

So, to keep things smooth and accurate, make sure your details online match what you originally filled out in your application. This way, you can easily track the progress of your Voter ID and ensure everything goes smoothly.

Deadline and Key Dates

There's some exciting news about voter registration in India! The government is planning to make it easier for people to enroll as voters by changing the rules. They want to have not just one but four cut-off dates every year for voter registration. This is a big deal because it will help create a common voter list for Lok Sabha, Assembly, and local body elections. It will also allow more young people to become voters.

Right now, to be eligible to vote in an election in a particular year, you must turn 18 years old by January 1st of that year or earlier. But this rule has some problems. For example, if someone turns 18 on January 2nd or later, they have to wait until the next year to register to vote. That's not fair, right?

So, the government is working on changing the law. They want to add four qualifying dates every year: January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st. This way, no matter when you turn 18 during the year, you can register to vote on the nearest qualifying date.

The law ministry is getting ready to make these changes, and they are also working on other election-related improvements. They want to create a common voter list for Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections. Currently, many states use different rules, but this change will make things more uniform and organized.

This move aims to encourage all states to use the electoral roll prepared by the Election Commission for local body elections. Right now, some states are hesitant because of the single qualifying date (January 1st) used by the Election Commission. By adding four qualifying dates, more states might be convinced to use this role, making voter registration and updates more accessible.

So, this is an important step towards making it easier for all eligible citizens, especially young people, to become voters and participate in the democratic process. It's all about ensuring fairness and inclusivity in our elections.

For more updates visit the official site:

How to Register Complaint if Your Name is not on Voter List 

The recent elections in various states have brought to light a concerning issue that affects registered voters. Many individuals have faced a disheartening problem: their names are missing from the voters' list even though they had been officially registered by the election commission. This omission has prevented countless citizens from exercising their right to vote in these elections.

The heart of the issue lies in the process by which state electoral bodies acquire the voters' list. They source this crucial information from the election commission's website. However, a glitch or error in this process has led to the unintentional exclusion of thousands of eligible voters.

Voting is a fundamental right in a democratic nation, and citizens should not be deprived of this privilege due to administrative errors. Election authorities need to ensure that the voters' list is comprehensive and accurate so that no one is left without the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. Addressing these issues and improving the registration and verification process is essential to uphold the integrity of elections and preserve citizens' right to vote.

Reasons for Names Missing from the Voters Lists and a Guide to Include the Names in Voters Lists:

Below, we outline the reasons for removal from the electoral list and the steps you should take to re-register:

• To update your address within the same constituency, obtain Form 8A. You can download it from eci.gov.in or visit the local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) office for a free copy.

• If you've relocated to a different constituency, you must re-register in your new constituency. Fill out Form 6, which is available for download on eci.gov.in or at ERO and AERO offices.

• To have your name removed from the electoral list, obtain Form 7 from the ERO or AERO offices or download it online.

• In case there's incorrect information about you in the voter list, correct it by filling out Form 8, available for download on eci.gov.in or at ERO and AERO offices.

• Remember, it's important to ensure that your voter information is accurate and up-to-date, as this allows you to vote in elections without any hindrances. Whether it's a change of address, moving to a new constituency, or correcting inaccuracies, the Election Commission provides these forms to facilitate the process.
  

Disclaimer: Information given above is subject to changes, please visit the official site of the Election Commission of India eci.gov.in for further updates.

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