Apply for Voter ID Card Online

Exercising one’s franchise is every Indian citizen’s right as per the Indian Constitution and to do this, one requires a voter’s ID card. Every Indian citizen above the age of 18 years is permitted to apply for a voter ID/ election card. In addition to allowing an individual to take part in the democratic process, it also serves as valid identification proof for everything from applying for a loan to buying a house. Generally people put off applying for one due to the long drawn out application process.

Earlier, it was possible to apply for a voter’s card only prior to an election, either local or national. However, the Election Commission of India has now made it easier to apply for a voter’s card from the comfort of your home through an online application process.

How to do online voter registration?

The online registration process of a new Voter ID is very simple. All you have to do is go to the Election Commission of India (ECI) homepage, the official website for voter registration. The website has everything you would need to know about the election process in India, from electoral rolls to the election schedules for upcoming elections across the country. It also has a list of guidelines for voters and various application forms to register oneself. There are a number of forms, based on the service you wish to avail. These range from name change, inclusion of name in electoral roll for citizens residing in India, as well as separate forms for those who live overseas and members of the armed forces, those in government service, etc. You would have to select the form for new voter registration, which is Form 6.

To find the form you have to select National Voters’ Service Portal on the homepage of ECI website. Under the ‘National Services’ section, click on ‘Apply online for new registration of voter’. This will take you to the online application form.

Steps Involved in New Voter ID Online Application:

In short, the steps involved in the online application process are as follows:

• Step 1 - Visit the official website of the Election Commission of India.
• Step 2 - Click on ‘National Voters’ Services Portal’.
• Step 3 - Click on ‘Apply online for registration of new voter’.
• Step 4 - Enter details and upload the required documents.
• Step 5 - Click on ‘Submit’.

Once you submit, you will receive an email on the email address that you have provided. This email will have a link to a personal Voter’s ID page. You will be able to track your voter ID application through this page, and you should receive your Voter ID card in a month from your application.

Documents required to apply for a Voter’s ID Card (Voter Registration):

To apply for a voter ID card online, you would require the following documents:

• One passport sized photograph
• Identity proof- this could be a birth certificate, passport, driving licence, PAN Card or high school mark sheet.
• Address proof- this could be either ration card, your passport, driving license or a utility bill (phone or electricity).

Benefits of applying online for Election Card/Voter ID Card:

There are many benefits for voter id online registration. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Comfort – This is the biggest advantage of the online application process. Now, you do not have to travel to the electoral office in your constituency to obtain the form. This part used to be an oft-cited reason for not applying for the card, since quite a few eligible voters did not know where their electoral office was located, or did not find the time to collect a form during business hours. With the process going online, prospective voters can do away with this inconvenience. They are now able to download the relevant form and fill it up in the comfort of their homes.
• Track Voter ID Status – This is another advantage of applying for an election card/voter ID online. You can easily track your voter ID status online. Once you submit the form, you will start receiving regular updates on the status of your application.
• Quick processing – The application process moves faster when you apply online. Applying online would mean your voter ID would be delivered to your doorstep in a month’s time, as opposed to the regular application process which would take much longer.

Fields Included in the Voter ID Form Online:

Form 6 is a comprehensive document that gathers all information about the applicant and is divided into sections. At the start of the form, you will have to choose the state or the province you are applying for the voter id card form, and select your constituency from drop-down menus.

The different sections of the online Voter ID form are as follows:

• First Section:

The first section of the form contains information on the applicant’s details. The first column requires you to fill in your name in both English as well as the regional language of your state/province. You would be required to fill in your gender, with a list of options to choose from a drop-down menu. Birth details follow next. Here you would have to fill in your date of birth or your age as on the day you are filling out the form, whichever one is known. You would have to fill in all birth details such as the state you were born in and the district or province. You can fill in the name of the village or town if you wish to.

You would have to fill in the name of either your mother/father/husband/wife, mentioning the individual’s name and surname. You would also have to fill in what relationship you share, such as if the person is your father/mother/husband. This information is to be mentioned in both English as well as the regional language.

• Second Section:

The second section deals with your address particulars. In this section, you would have to fill in your house or door number, which is optional. You have to provide the name of your street, locality, road or mohalla. Also compulsory is entering the name of your village or town. After this, you have to enter the name of the post office in your locality. Next, you would have to enter the pin code and the tehsil/ taluka or mandal or thana. After this you have to select your district from a drop down menu. You can choose to fill in your email ID and your mobile number.

• Third Section:

The third section is where you would have to enter the details of any family member who is currently registered as a voter in the same electoral constituency. You would have to enter the name of the person, their relationship (whether they are your mother, father or husband), their election photo ID number, also their constituency and serial number as it appears in the electoral rolls of the constituency.

You would also have to upload supporting documents like your photograph, address proof and identity proof.

• Fourth Section:

The fourth section of the form is the declaration. This declaration confirms that you are a citizen of India who resides at the address you have provided in the form. It further states that you have not applied for a voter’s ID card in any other constituency.

The last declaration is one with two options:

• The first states that this is the first time your name will be included on the electoral rolls in any constituency.
• The second option states that your name may be on the electoral roll, here you would have to provide the place where it could be registered, along with the date (in day, month and year format).

You would have to select one of the two options as applicable.

Once you have finished filling up the form, you can choose from the options provided. If you have finished entering all your information, you can select ‘Submit’. In case you wish to continue filling it at a later date, you can select ‘Save’, and complete the form whenever you wish. If you want to erase all the information you have entered, you can select the ‘Reset’ button.

FAQs on Voter ID Apply Online:

• Can anyone apply for a Voter ID online?

Anyone who is eligible to get a Voter ID card ( any individual who is above the age of 18 years and is a citizen of India) can apply for the Voter ID card online given that they have a stable internet connection.

• What are the benefits of applying for a Voter ID online?

There are several benefits of applying for a Voter ID card online. Listed below are the advantages of applying for a Voter ID card online:

• • The applicant does not have to visit the electoral office and can apply for the Voter ID from the comfort of their house.
  • The applicant can track the status of their Voter ID card online without any hassle.
  • The applicant will receive timely updates in regard to the status of their Voter ID card.
  • The process is much quicker when the application is made online.
• What is the form required to apply for a Voter ID online and where can one get the form?

In order to apply for a Voter ID card online, one has to fill in and submit Form 6. The form can be availed from the official Election Commission of India website.

• What are the fields included in the Voter ID form?

The Voter ID form is divided into various sections and contains several fields. Listed below are the different sections of the form:

• First section- The first section consists of information of the applicant’s details such as name of the applicant, gender, date of birth, place of birth, etc.
• Second section- The second section of the form contains details of your address. The applicant has to fill in details of address such as door name, street name, etc.
• Third section- The third section contains details of any family member who is currently registered as a voter in the same electoral constituency.
• Fourth section- The fourth form contains declaration. The first part of the declaration states that this is the first time your name will be included on the electoral rolls in any constituency. The second part of the declaration states that your name may be on the electoral roll, here you would have to provide the place where it could be registered, along with the date (in day, month and year format).

• What are the documents required to apply for a Voter ID card online?

Listed below are the documents required to apply for a Voter ID card online:

• One passport sized photograph
• Identity proof- this could be a birth certificate, passport, driving license, PAN Card or high school mark sheet.
• Address proof- this could be either ration card, your passport, driving license or a utility bill.