With the Lok Sabha polls just weeks away, the state election department is gearing up to hold the elections with 7,06,489 new voters (in between 18 and 19 years of age) enrolled in the latest photo electoral rolls in Assam. In Kamrup (Metro) district, as per the latest poll rolls, the total electors are 10,70,234 out of which 21,915 are first time voters.
Similarly, the total electors in Assam are 2,17,60,604. Of them, 1,11,32,782 are male voters while 1,06,27,822 number of voters are female.
In the last electoral roll of 2018, the total voters were 2,12,47,854. Therefore, there is an increase of 5,12,750 voters in the 2019 electoral roll compared to that of 2018 indicating a rise of 2.42 percent.
First-time voters are a very important group for any party. The new age voters are often more informed, updated and connected; they are better educated and more tech-savvy than the rest of the voters in the family. In the upcoming Lok Sabha election to be held by the Election Commission of India, millions of voters will cast their franchise for the first time. Here's a guide for all first time voters for voting in these elections:
Who can cast vote in Lok Sabha elections?
- Any Indian citizens above the age of 18 years who have registered themselves as voters are eligible to vote.
- Even non-resident Indians or NRIs can cast their ballots.
- All eligible voters can register themselves for voter ID by filling Form 6 which is available both online and offline.
How to register for Voter ID online?
First time voters who wish to enroll themselves with the Election Commission of India are required to fill up Form 6 online at National Voters' Service Portal.
To fill up the form, log on to http://www.nvsp.in/, click on “Apply online for registration of new voter/due to shifting from AC,” Form 6 will open.
Fill the form either in Hindi, English or Malayalam.
Apart from the usual questions like name of state, district and constituency, you'll also be asked to fill the Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number of any one of your relative or neighbor.
You'll also be asked to upload photos of the necessary documents including passport size photo, proof of date of birth and proof of address.
Once you're done filling the form and attaching the documents, fill the declaration and submit the form.
After submitting the form, you will be delivered a reference ID number. You can track the status of your application using this reference ID number.
Once the form is processed, it will go to the related Booth Level Officer (BLO). After necessary verification, your voter ID will be ready and delivered to you.
How to register for Voter ID offline?
Those who wish to apply offline, or are facing any problems with the online process may apply for voter identity card offline as well.
For offline registration, you will have to visit the Booth Level Officer (BLO) to obtain Form 6.
Like in the online form, you will require to fill the necessary details asked for in the form.
After filling the details, submit the form along with two passport size photographs, photocopy of proof of birth and proof of address to the officer.
You will also be asked to submit a photocopy of one of your family member’s voter ID card. If no one in your family has voter ID card, you can submit a photocopy of voter ID card of your neighbor or friend.
Once you submit all the necessary documents with BLO, the concerned department will verify the papers and you will be delivered with your voter ID card.
Is there a last date of registration?
All eligible persons can enroll their names into the voters' list till the last date of filing of nominations for Assembly polls.
Can I vote using document other than the election voter ID?
Yes, you can provided you are enrolled through the above process with the Election Commission of India and your name figures on the voters’ list. Following is a list of the government-issued photo identity documents that can be used to vote:
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- Passport
- Driving license
- Service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by central or state government-run companies
- Passbooks with photograph issued by a bank or post office
- PAN card
- Smart card issued by the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the National Population Register
- MNREGA job card
- Health insurance smart card issued under a Ministry of Labour scheme
- Pension document with a photograph
- Authenticated photo voter slip issued by the election machinery
- Official identity cards issued to lawmakers or legislators
- Aadhaar card
On February 28, the Election Commission of India said in an order that photo voter slips will no longer be accepted as stand-alone identification documents for voting because these do not have any security features and can be misused. Overseas electors will be required to produce their original passport for identification.
