How To Apply For The Voter Id Online

Voting right in a democracy is the single most important right, responsibility and duty of every citizen of the country. India is ranked among the largest democracies in the world. Elections in India are not only a huge event but a celebration of the ultimate power of the citizens of the country.

The elections in India are governed by a separate body, the Election Commission of India, which regulates the elections throughout the country and is also responsible for issuing Voter IDs to the citizens of the country.

The Election Commission has laid down certain rules and regulations for a person to be eligible for applying a voter’s id and thereby be eligible to vote from his/her constituency. Voter's ID is not only used as a means to be eligible to vote but also as an important KYC document for purposes like applying for a new loan or a new bank account or for any new important document like Aadhaar Card, PAN Card etc. The prerequisites for a person to apply for a voter’s id in India are stated below.

• The first and foremost requirement for a person to apply for Voter’s ID is to be a citizen of the country.
• The applicant should be of 18 years of age as on the qualifying date i.e., the 1st of January of the year of revision of electoral roll.
• The applicant has to be an ordinary resident of the constituency where he/she wants to be enrolled.
• The applicant is not disqualified to be enrolled as a voter by the election commission.

Benefits of Voter ID

Having a Voter ID in the country has many benefits. Some examples of such benefits are highlighted below.

• Voter ID is considered to be one of the most effective tools of proving one’s citizenship.
• Voter ID gives the holder a right to vote and take part in deciding the Government of the country.
• It is also an essential document to be eligible for various Government Schemes, subsidies, etc.

Applicable Forms

Election Commission has specified a specific type of form to be filled by each category of applicant. This category depends on the nature of the applicant (resident or NRI), the changes sought, etc.

The applicable forms relevant for each category of applicants are stated below.

• The general voters or the first time voters have to fill in Form 6. This form is also applicable for the voters who have changed or shifted to another constituency.
• For NRI applicants, the applicable form is Form 6A.
• For any change in details of the applicant like the name, address, date of birth, EPIC Number, age, etc. the applicable form is Form 8.
• Form 8A is required to be submitted in case change of residence within the same constituency.

The last date of applying for a new Voter ID or any change in the same is approximately 3 weeks before the polling date.

Procedure to apply for Voter ID Online

Earlier the only way to apply for a Voter ID was to visit the State Election office, request the relevant form and then submit the same along with the necessary documents. The Election Commission has simplified the process to apply for Voter ID by facilitating online application of Voter ID. The essential requirement to apply a Voter ID online is to have a valid email id, valid address proof and the circle number of the applicant’s area or where he/she belongs. The procedure to apply for a Voter ID through online mode is stated below.

• The first step is to check for the enrollment of the applicant in the National voter’s service portal (NVSP) or visit the official website ecicitizenservices.nic.in
• After that, the applicants have to select the relevant form to be submitted.
• They will be redirected to the relevant application form where the applicant will have to submit their mobile number.
• This will generate a unique user id and password which will be sent via SMS for logging in and filling the relevant form.
• The form has to be filled correctly online with all the necessary details and has to be then submitted.
• The applicant will also have to attach or submit the necessary supporting documents along with their recent photo to complete the application process.
• The applicant will receive an Application ID which will have to be printed and duly noted.
• The applicant can also edit the data submitted by logging in using the user id and password sent to their mobile number via SMS and then submit the form.
• The applicant will have to send the printed copy along with the copies of the necessary documents and latest photo to the address provided in the printed copy.
• The applicant will also have to submit the application form and the required documents to the concerned Electoral Officer of the Assembly constituency where the applicant resides.
• Final step is to collect the receipt duly signed by the ERO.

Thereafter, the applicant will receive his/her voter ID card at their nearest ERO or can also track the status of the application by using the Application ID.

Documents required for Online Voter ID Application

The general documents required while applying for a Voter ID online are,

• Age Proof
• Address proof
• Identity proof
• Latest passport size photographs

FAQs – How to apply for Voter ID online