Sumita Bhinchar

In India, there are three main categories of electors: General electors Overseas (NRI) electors Service Electors

To be registered on the electoral roll, an applicant must: Be an Indian citizen Be 18 years of age or older, based on the relevant qualifying dates Be an ordinary resident of the constituency where they intend to register

After changes in Section 14(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, there are now four qualifying dates each year for voter registration: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. You can submit your application for registration (Form-6) at any time after reaching the age of 18 on these dates. Applications are processed, and registration occurs in the quarter when the applicant turns 18.

You need to be on the Voter List or Electoral Roll. Information about polling booths, candidates, election schedules, ID requirements, and EVMs is available for registered voters on the ECI website

You can verify your presence on the Voter List via the Electoral Search website (https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in), by calling the Voter Helpline at 1950 (prefix your STD code), sending an SMS to 1950 with your EPIC number, or through the Voter Helpline App for Android and iOS.

To see the candidate list, you can visit the Candidate Affidavit Portal or use the Voter Helpline App available for Android and iOS devices.

Find your polling booth on the Electoral Search website (https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in), through the Voter Helpline App, by calling the Voter Helpline at 1950 (with your local STD code), or by sending an SMS to 1950. Remember, electronic devices are not allowed inside polling booths.

Follow the process at your polling station: first, verify your ID and name on the list, then receive a slip and have your finger inked. After signing a register, hand over the slip, show your inked finger, and proceed to vote using the EVM. Confirm your vote on the VVPAT machine, where it’s displayed before being secured.

Bring one of the following recognised IDs, as a Photo Voter Slip is not sufficient for voting: EPIC (Voter ID card) Passport Driving Licence Government or PSU Service ID Bank/Post Office Passbook with photograph PAN Card NPR Smart Card MNREGA Job Card Health Insurance Smart Card Pension document with photograph Official IDs for MPs/MLAs/MLCs, including Aadhaar Card

An overseas elector is an Indian citizen who hasn’t acquired citizenship of another country and is eligible to be registered as a voter. This person must be absent from India due to employment, education, or other reasons but can register as a voter in the constituency linked to their Indian residence as per their passport. Under Section 20A of the Representation of People Act, 1950, an NRI living abroad can be enrolled in India's electoral roll.

Any Indian citizen who is 18 years old on the qualifying date, which is January 1 of the electoral roll’s revision year, and is not disqualified for any reason, is eligible to be registered as a voter at their ordinary residence's constituency.

No, only Indian citizens are eligible for registration on the electoral rolls in India. Those who are not Indian citizens or have renounced Indian citizenship by acquiring citizenship of another country cannot be enrolled as voters in India.