Video Editor: Prashant Chauhan
How do I register to vote? Can I vote after shifting residences? And most importantly, which forms do I fill?
If you’re wondering about these questions, don’t worry. Here’s a guide on how to register to vote in the 2019 elections, with all your FAQs answered. Welcome to Voting ki Pathshala.
1. Wait, Can I Vote?
First, you need to check if you’re eligible to vote. For that, you should be:
i. A citizen of India
ii. 18 years or older on 1st January 2019
iii. A resident of the part/polling area of the constituency where you want to be enrolled.
iv. Not disqualified to be enrolled as an elector.
If you meet this criteria, congratulations, you can vote!
2. How Do I Check My Name on the Voters’ List?
Now the question is, have you ever voted before?
If yes, you can check your enrollment status or your name in the voter’s list by going to this link. If no, and you’re a first-time voter, you’ll have to register.
3. I’m a First-Time Voter. How Do I Register?
You can register to vote online and offline. Online, you go to the Election Commission of India website or this link and fill Form 6 online, which can be accessed here. Offline, you’ll have to fill two copies of Form 6. This form is available, free of cost in offices of the Electoral Registration Officers or the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers.
This application needs to be submitted to concerned Electoral Registration Officer or the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer or sent by post addressed to them. It cans also be handed over to the Booth Level Officer of your polling area.
Don’t forget to take your relevant documents along with you. You can look up where your Electoral Registration Officer can be found on the State Election Commission website of your state.
4. I’m an NRI, Can I Vote?
Yes, you can. To be allowed to vote, you’ll have to fill Form 6A, which can be accessed here at this link or on the Election Commission website.
5. I’ve Shifted Homes, What Do I Do?
Don’t worry, you can still vote. If you have shifted in the same constituency, you can fill Form 8A. If you have shifted from one constituency to another, like one from state to another, you will have to fill Form 6. Both are available on the Election Commission website.
6. I Need to Change Details on my Voter ID, What Do I Do?
Wrong spelling? Or do you have an error in your date of birth? Then you must fill Form 8, available online and offline. Next!
7. Am I Too Late?
Not really. The good news is that there is no deadline for registering yourself. Well, sort of. The voter list is continuously updated till the last date of filing nominations by candidates, so basically 3 weeks before election day in your constituency.
But why delay it till the last minute? After all, iss baar election mein vote nahin kiya, toh kya kiya?
(With inputs from Election Commission of India)
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