Voter ID or Electors Photo Identity Card is a photo identification card given by the Election Commission of India to all Indian citizens who are eligible to vote. Voter ID is used to verify the voters’ identities, boost productivity, and prevent fraud and impersonation during free and transparent democratic elections. This identification card is also frequently referred as a voter ID card, election card, or voter’s card.
Structure of Voter ID
A government agency produced the Voter ID and it is used as a personal identification in India. The voter ID includes some information that given below:
- A unique Serial number
- Cardholder’s Photograph
- A hologram containing the respective state/national symbol
- Cardholder’s name
- father’s Name of cardholder
- Gender
- Cardholder’s Date of Birth
Back side of the voter ID card contains :
- Cardholder’s residential address
- Signature of the electoral registration officer
How to Apply for a Voter ID Card?
In Three ways an Indian citizen can apply for a voter ID:
1. Online
- To apply for a Voter ID card online, applicants first go to the National Voter Service Portal (NSVP) website.
- To register a new voter ID, select the appropriate option.
- After that an online “Form 6” will open and applicants must complete the form before submitting.
- Applicant must also upload their photo and any other documents relevant to their voter ID status.
2. Semi-Online
- In semi online process applicant first go to the National Voter Service Portal (NSVP) website.
- Download the ‘Form 6’ and provide the necessary information in the form.
- After fill the form 6, send it to the Election Office near in you with a photo and other necessary supporting documentation.
3. Offline
- For offline process, applicant go their nearest State Election office applicant and get Form 6.
- Applicant must Fill the‘Form 6’ completely, along with all the supporting documentation and deliver the finished application to the relevant electoral office.
- After the form has been verified and a voter ID will be issued.
Required Documents For Voter ID Card
Applying for a Voter ID card, applicants must provide the following documents:
- Identity proof
- Address proof
- Photograph
Eligibility to Apply for Voter ID Card
- Applicants must be an Indian citizen
- Age: 18 years or above
- Applicants Must have a permanent address
How to Change from Old Voter ID to a New One
The Indian government developed the idea of an electronic picture identity card, or e-PIC Voter ID. It is portable photo identification and available in PDF format. The newly registered candidates who have registered for voter ID after November 2020 and having a significant mobile number are eligible to receive an e-PIC.
Government of India has declared that Phase II of the initiative will include the provision of e-PIC to the current Voter ID holders. Below are the steps how freshly enrolled candidates can get their e-PIC.
- First log in to the National Voters Service Portal.
- On the home page, select the option ‘e-PIC Download’.
- Enter the Form Reference number or EPIC number and choose your state. ‘Search’ should be selected.
- On your registered mobile number an OTP will be sent. To confirm, key in the OTP on the screen.
- Click on “Download e-PIC” to get your portable voter ID.
Some Points to be Noted Before Applying for a Voter ID
An Indian citizen must have their voter identification card in order to fulfill their fundamental civic duty that voting in democratic elections. Voter ID serves as identification and address proof.
- The minimum legal age for applicants is 18 years.
- Applicants must be mentally stable.
- Applicants should not have outstanding warrants for their arrest, and not be insolvent.
- Applicants have to complete the appropriate paperwork, such Form 6, and make sure that applicants present the relevant original documents.
- applications must be submitted for Voter ID only through the government-run or government-approved websites and locations.
- Before applying for Voter ID , Applicants must ensure that information such as their name, date of birth, residence, and other details are spelled correctly.
- Make sure all the information of applicants must be accurate in all respects legally.
- After successfully receiving their voter ID, applicants must re-verify their identification documents and Voter ID to ensure that the information is accurate.
How to Verify Voter ID?
If applicant think their Voter ID is fake, then by entering their Voter ID number, applicants can check their Voter ID. The candidate must go to the nearest state election office or the official website of their state’s chief electoral officer to verify their Voter ID. To cross-verify the information, one must check and see if their name is in the electoral roll. In case any discrepancies, applicant is required to notify the Chief Electoral Officer.
- To verify the Voter ID, go to the National Voters Services Portal (NVSP) and select the “Search in Electoral Roll”.
- Enter your Voter ID details and verify it.
- Voter ID Correction in Electoral roll
- If you needs to modify or correct any information on your voter ID, then you can go to your local election office or through online you can also do changes by go to the national voters’ service site.
- If your Voter ID details are not correct, then don’t worry. You can fill the “Form 8” with the necessary voter ID modifications and submit in your local election office or upload it online to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). Once you have submitted ERO will process your application and update your voter ID as needed.
Uses of Voter ID
- Voter ID serves as identification and address proof.
- The Voter ID Card serves as proof of registered voter.
- The Voter ID has a number of characteristics for personal identification, that includes signature and photograph of cardholder.
- Certain government programs you can access with the voter identification card.
How to Check the Status of Voter ID Application?
On State Election Commission website, voter ID sapplicants can now monitor the progress of their applications. For each Indian state there is a webpage for the respective election commission.
- To track the status of voter ID, you can visit the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
- Then, go to the option ‘Know the Voter ID status.
- Applying through the National Voters’ Services Portal is an additional option. You can choose the option “Search your Name in the Electoral Roll.”
- You can also go to the National Voters’ Services Portal to track your application. Below are the steps:
- On the home page, select the option ‘Track Application Status’.
- Fill the application number or EPIC number and enter the following details:
Name
Date of birth
Gender
State
Father’s name
District constituency
- After that click on ‘Search’ to see your voter ID card status.
What to do if you are not getting your voter ID
Didn’t Receive Voter ID yet? Then go through the steps below :
- If you are not received your voter id yet, then visit the CEO’s official website or you can go to your local election office.
- Specify your reference number and other information that you were given when submitting form 6 here.
- You should have choose the ‘Track Status’.
- The status of your application will be updated.
- After submitted online application, it could take up to 30 days to arrive your voter ID. If there any issues with the voter ID you have received, you can go to the state election office and make any necessary corrections.
NRI Voter ID
Indians those who are live in abroad can cast their votes during elections. NRIs can request their voter identification cards online or they can apply in person if they present in India. NRIs must physically be present in the nation and in their constituency to cast their vote, they cannot vote remotely.
