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 an Online Voter ID:
- Applicant have to visit the national website of the 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 an 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 a 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 an 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 acknowledgment that the cardholder is a registered voter.
- The card includes several identification features like the applicant’s signature, photograph, fingerprints, etc., which provide added assurance for the cardholder.
- 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 an 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
Online Voter Registration
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.
