Can An 18-Year-Old Vote Without A Voter-id? Here's What You Need To Know!

In order to get registered with the Election Commission of India, the voter has to fill Form-6 and submit it to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the assembly constituency after which the voter’s name will be included in the electoral roll as a voter.

Photo: PTI (Representative Image)

I have turned 18, can I vote without a voting card if I register: As the country is witnessing assembly elections in Bihar and by-elections in Madhya Pradesh. The election commission, different government agencies and even the political parties are urging the citizens to come out and vote.

As each vote counts and is a building block of democracy, the right to vote is an inalienable part of the citizen’s right in a democracy. An electoral franchise strengthens participatory democracy and gives chances to the common man's concerns to be raised into the Indian legislature and transform them into laws.

Who is eligible to vote?

As per the Election commission of India, citizens are eligible to become voters under the following conditions:

Every citizen who is 18 years old on the qualifying date (January 1 of the year in case) unless disqualified, is eligible to be enrolled. Enrollment only at ordinary places of residence.

Enrollment only at one place.

Overseas Indian deemed to be ordinarily resident at the address given in passport.

Service voters deemed to be ordinarily resident at their home address.

Is voting possible without a voter-id?

As per the election commission of India, Indian citizens who are 18 years of age are eligible to vote. As per the new rules, citizens can also cast their vote even if they don’t possess voter-id, regardless they have got themselves registered with the election commission as the name is needed to be reflected on the voter list.

How to get registered with the election commission?

In order to get registered with the Election Commission of India, the voter has to fill Form-6 and submit it to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the assembly constituency after which the voter’s name will be included in the electoral roll as a voter. One can submit Form-6 both online and offline.

After getting registered with the electoral registration, the voter’s name will be reflected on the voters list, once the citizen is eligible to vote and has enrolled, a voter slip from the ECI will be issued that confirms the name on the voter list. This slip, along with a stipulated photo ID proof, can act as a voter card, in case one does not have a voter ID card.

One of the following 11 specified photo identity documents will be required for casting vote, when the voters does not possess voter ID card, or EPIC:

Passport Driving license Service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by central/state govt./PSU/public limited company Passbook with photograph issued by a state bank or post office PAN card Smart card issued by RGI under NPR NREGA job card Health Insurance smart card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labor Pension document with photograph Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, etc. Aadhaar card

Amid the worldwide pandemic of Coronavirus, the country is going through a full-fledge assembly election in Bihar and assembly by-polls in Madhya Pradesh.