Home / Health Insurance / Articles / Voter ID / A Comprehensive Guide to India's Election Commission ID

A Comprehensive Guide to India's Election Commission ID

TeamAckoJun 4, 2024

With the Election Commission Identity Card, you finally get to have a voice for your country’s future. There is a rather popular name for this, which is the Voter ID, and by no means it is a long process to apply for this important document.

Right after you become 18, applying for the Election Commission Identity Card is a must, as you won’t be able to vote without it. When you apply to become a voter, you will get an ID, which is known as the Election Commission ID. It is actually a special number that is known as the EPIC number or Electoral Photo Identity Card Number. Basically, it is a 10-digit alphanumeric number that is printed on the ID.

If this is the first time you will vote, you are at the right place. This article explores what an Election Commission ID in India is, who is eligible, and how to apply for it.

Election

Contents

What Is An Election Commission ID?
Who Can Get an Election Commission ID?
Why is it essential to get an Election Commission ID?
Categories Of Voters In India
Documents Required For Election Commission ID
How To Apply For Election Commission ID
Things to note before applying for a voter ID
How can you get the voter ID using the helpline app
Migrating From Old Election Commission ID To New Election Commission ID
Wrapping Up
Frequently Asked Questions

What Is An Election Commission ID?

The Election Commission ID is the voter identification card, or voter ID card, issued by the Indian Election Commission. Citizens can use it as proof of ID and also as evidence that they can vote in Indian state and government elections. Indian adults over 18 years old can apply for the Election Commission ID, also known as EPIC or Elector's Photo Identity Card.

Find out more about the Election Commission ID in this article. We will also explore how to get the Election Commission ID and who is eligible for it.

Who Can Get an Election Commission ID?

You need to fulfil certain criterias in order to be able to apply for the Election Commission ID. Although the eligibility criteria may vary by your state, these are the requirements:

Be an Indian citizen
Be at least 18 years old
Not be disqualified from voting due to specific legal reasons (e.g., criminal convictions, electoral fraud).

Check with your state Election Commission ID for more details about eligibility.

Why is it essential to get an Election Commission ID?

Now that you know what is an election commission ID, let us take a look at the reasons why a voter ID card is important:

It is essential for verification purposes. Only an Indian voter who is eligible may cast their vote in the elections. But how can someone know if they are eligible? It is where the voter ID comes into play. Having this ID on your side will not cause any questions regarding your eligibility. There is a unique identification number on your card along with the address, name, and photograph, which solidifies you as a voter.
Another essential purpose that this card plays is to deter vote fraud. The authorities may take note of the process and make sure that one individual has not gone on and voted multiple times.
The voter ID card simplifies the whole process of voting. To illustrate, there are a number of people at each voting booth. And there are many voting booths throughout the city. Verification of each individual one by one is not at all practical as it is very time-consuming. It is where the voter ID comes in. With this, you enter the booth, vote, and then leave.

The voter ID gives everyone a sense of inclusion. Irrespective of who you are and where you are from, you can have a voter ID card with which you may vote and have a say on the future of the

Categories Of Voters In India

The Chief Electoral Office notes that there are 3ain categories of voters in India.

(i) General Electors - citizens and laypeople

(ii) Oversees (NRI) electors - Indian citizens who live overseas and can cast a proxy vote

(iii) Service Electors - government employees and officials

Documents Required For Election Commission ID

In order to apply for an Election Commission ID, you need to furnish the electoral office with certain documents. Although document requirements vary by state, the following documents are necessary for the Election Commission ID in all Indian states. These documents serve as proof of identity, address, and age, ensuring the authenticity and Voting eligibility of the applicant.

Color Passport Size Photographs

The potential voter should submit colour photographs for the identification part of their Election Commission ID.

Proof of Address

These are some documents to submit for Election Commission ID which serve as proof of address

Bank/Kisan/Post Office passbooks
Ration Card
Driver's Licence
Indian Passport
Income Tax Return filed/Assessment Order
Rental Agreement
Current utilities bill such as
Water/Telephone/Electricity/Gas Connection Bill
Indian postal service post that have been received or delivered under the person's name at the address mentioned on the post

Proof of Age

To prove that the person is 18 years or older, they need to supply age proof documents such as:

AADHAAR Card
PAN Card
Driver's Licence
Indian Passport
10/11/12 grade marksheets
Birth Certificate
Birth document given by municipal authorities
Document of registrar of births & deaths
Baptism certificate from church

Identity Proof

Current documents with proof of identity (photo and name) sanctioned by the government need to be turned in as well.

Applicants for Election Commission ID can submit photocopies of:

PAN card
Driver's licence
Ration card
Passport copy
Bank passbook with photo
SSLC certificate
School or college student ID card
AADHAAR card

How To Apply For Election Commission ID

To obtain an Election Commission ID, Indian citizens have to apply online or at the Election Commission office. They will need to submit documents including proof of identity, proof of address, and follow the simple and straightforward step by step process.

Check Your Eligibility (Skip If You Know Your Age Eligibility)

If you're 18 or will be 18 in the voting season, you can check your age eligibility in this portal:

https://electoralsearch.in/

Register For Election Commission ID Online

If you are not a government employee nor NRI, go ahead and fill out Form 6 on the Election Commission online portal. This Form 6 is for 'First time voters' and 'voters who have shifted to another constituency'.

If you are an NRI Voter, you will need to fill out form 6A.

Need to change your EPIC card details? Then fill out Form 8 to update any changes in your Name, Photo, Age, EPIC Number, Address, Date of birth, Age, Name of relative, Type of relation, Gender.

If you're moving addresses within the same constituency, you should fill out Form 8A.

Register For Election Commission ID Offline

Not going to register online? You can register for the Election Commission ID offline, in person.

You will need to fill out TWO copies of Form 6. These Form 6 documents are available for free at the Electoral Registration Officers/Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers offices in cities, towns, and panchayat.

Turn in the application with photocopies of the required documents (link to required documents section) in person. You need to submit all of these at your local Electoral Registration Officer/Assistant Electoral Registration Officer offices. You can also send these by post to the above mentioned individuals or turn it in at the Election Commission booths.

Things to note before applying for a voter ID

Here are some of the things that should be noted before you even go on and apply for a voter ID:

18 years is the minimum age requirement for an individual to apply for a voter ID
The individual must have a sound mental condition.
Form 6 is a must for every individual to fill up and submit all the documents that are relevant.
The details need to be provided accurately such as the birth date, address, name, and other important things.
It is a must for the applicants to re-verify the documents and check if the information is given correctly.
There should not be a sign of any criminal record.
Application for the voters ID card must be submitted through government-certified websites.

Which forms are needed to apply for a voter ID card online?

Here are the forms you will need when you want to apply for a voter ID card online:

Form 6A: NRI voter election card application
Form 8A: Change of address from one constituency to another
Form 6B: To obtain EPIC or Aadhar
Form 6: Brand new voter ID & a shift to constituency
Form 8: Modification in personal details
Form 7: Inclusion or deletion of a name

How can you get the voter ID using the helpline app

The first thing you need to do is to go to the Google Play Store and download the application.
Click on the personal vault and then provide the necessary details to go through the authentication
Click on the login option. As soon as you are logged in, you will see the e-EPIC card displayed on the screen.
Click on the download option to finally obtain your voter ID from the application.

Migrating From Old Election Commission ID To New Election Commission ID

If you have an older Election Commission ID card, you can migrate to a new one. Use this step by step guide with the steps you should follow to change your Voter ID card number (EPIC Number) in your current Voter ID card.

Go to the National Voter Service Website

In the website, navigate to the application for change of Election Commission ID number and choose Form - 8. This form is used to make corrections in the Indian electoral roll cards.

Enter EPIC Card Details

Fill in location details such as your State, District, Assembly/Parliamentary Constituency.
Add your name and last name. You need to enter your name in English and your state's language, as your Election Commission ID will have both languages stated.
Fill in the number and serial number section.
Put in details of your current Election Commission ID (EPIC) number.

Update Number

Select what needs to be updated in Your Election Commission ID. Since you want to update the details, select "Elector's Photo Identity Card Number (if issued)".
Enter the updated EPIC number.
Attest that all information is correct and true in the declaration section.

Wait For Election Commission ID Update

Now you will receive an email with a link that lets you track your voter ID application status. It may take around 30 days for your application to be processed and for a voter ID to be issued.

Wrapping Up

India allows the right to vote. The Election Commission ID is something that ensures that everyone around the country has a seamless voting experience. By checking your eligibility to apply for an Election Commission ID, now you are acquainted with all the procedures to obtain a voter ID card. March on and have a say in the valuable future of the nation!

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the frequently asked questions on All About The Election Commission ID

Who is eligible for Election Commission ID?

Indian citizens over 18 years old can apply for the Election Commission ID.

What are the types of voters?

Voters may be citizens who are lay people, NRIs, overseas Indians, and government employees.

Is Voter's ID and Election Commission ID the same?

Yes, it's known by different names such as Election Commission ID, Voter's ID, etc but they are all the same card.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet, and is subject to changes.