How to Vote in India: A Complete Guide to the Voting Process, Registration, Eligibility Criteria.

How to Vote in India : Voting is the cornerstone of any democracy. Punching of Vote gives every citizens of any country to selecting their government and leaders. In India voting in election is to all who are in age of 18 or more . You know to get surprised that, India has one of the largest democracies in the world, Which having more than 900 million eligible voters as per record of year 2022 election commission . as per rule of constitution of India General elections are held every 5 years to Select Members of Parliament and state legislative assemblies.

How to Vote in India

It’s crucial for every eligible voter to know, How to Vote in India . Most of the Indian are not know the process of registration of voter list .In India they having rules of eligibility of voter by age , If any one are inter in age of 18 . they are now eligible for voter registration and give vote in election to select the candidate.

As per India constitution ,election are held on every 5 Year of gap. It may be conducted early in some condition .As per the right of constitution Every Indian, who age is 18 year ,they having right to give vote in election and which are get enrolled for voting by online and offline process. if you are interested know in detail how to vote in India and its complete process you have to read this article till end .

Also read :- How to check Aadhaar PVC Card Status

What is eligible criteria for vote in India ?

You know that our country having rule to giving vote in any election .there are some eligible criteria ,if some one are fulfilled the eligible criteria of election commission of India they can give vote. there are some rule listed below:

1. First of all The candidate be an Indian .
2. he candidate having at least 18 years old .
3. The applicant candidate having resident of that district .

we know that Voting is very easy process , which is your civic responsibility also. I think this guide will walk you through the process of registering to vote, locating your polling booth, obtaining your voter ID card, and casting your vote on election day or through e-ballot and EVM.

How to Registering to Vote ?

To vote in India’s elections, you must first of all register as a voter. Here’s are some process to know and how to check if you’re already registered and register process if you’re not ever registered .

How to Checking Registration Status ?

• First of all Go to the National Voter Services Portal and click on “Search Your Name in Voter List“.
• then Enter your details like name, relations name, age, state, district and captcha code.
• Your name will be searched in the electoral rolls and registration status displayed.

In any condition you are not enrolled or registered on election voter .then you have to know the processes of registration .

How to Registering to Vote ?

There are following process to registered the voter in India under the section of How to Vote in India shown below:-

If you are not registered, you can submit Form 6 online or offline to voter enroll.

1. first of all you have to visit official website National Voter Services Portal .
2. After that Online registration can be done at the National Voter Services Portal . You will need to upload documents like proof of age and residence.
3. For offline registration, submit Form 6 to your local Electoral Registration Officer or assistant electoral registration officer. You will need to provide supporting documents.

What Documents Required for Registering to Vote ?

if you are read this article till here then you are inserted in How to Vote in India .

Here are list of documents required for Registering to Vote.

• Proof of age: Birth certificate, school leaving certificate, PAN card, passport, drivers license etc.
• Proof of residence: Ration card, passport, bank passbook, rent agreement, utility bills etc. Documents should be current and valid.

What is Registration Deadlines ?

As per the rule of India government’s You can submit Form 6 online anytime.

For voting in upcoming elections, many time offline registration deadlines are announced by the Election Commission to registered the voter for making there voter card and become eligible for giving vote.. Usually registration closes days before the election.

governments say that you have permission to apply registrations for voter any time .that why Be sure to register well in advance of elections to avoid missing deadlines. Once registered, you will receive your Voter ID card.

How to Offline Registration do to Vote in India ?

You have to follow the following processes to register in vote give below:

1. First off all you have to get Form 6,from Booth Level Officer (BLO)
2. after that you have to fill the form 6 and provided the address proof , birth certificate and other document asper requirement
3. then they they have required 2 passport photo.
4. then your document will checked properly by BLO office.
5. if all you document are found corrects then they are approved your application and provided voter ID.

How to Finding Your Polling Booth

To Locating your assigned polling booth is an important step to ensure , where you can cast your vote on election day. Here are some tips on how to find your polling booth location:

• Check online – The Election Commission of India provides an online service to search for your polling booth by entering details like your name, district, assembly constituency etc. You can find it at official website https://electoralsearch.in/. This is the easiest way to find your booth.
• Call your District Election Office – You can also call the election office for your district and provide your address and voter ID details. They will be able to look up and inform you about your designated polling booth. The phone number of officers can usually be found on the district website or election commission website.
• Check your Voter Slip – The Voter Slip issued along with your Voter ID card contains details of your polling booth location. If you have your slip, check it to find the booth address. However, booths may change between elections so its best to still verify it.
• Visit local authorities – As a last resort, you can visit your local municipal office, gram panchayat office or other local authority office and request them to check the voter list and provide your polling booth details.
• Confirm onsite – On the day of voting, you can visit the address printed on your voter slip , but confirm with onsite officials that it is the right booth based on your details. Locals and volunteers can also help guide you.

To Checking your polling booth in advance and ensures you can conveniently reach the site and exercise your valuable right to vote on election day. Avoid last minute rushes and do verify your booth information beforehand.

What is Voter ID Card ?

The Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is an important document for Indian citizens who want to exercise their right to vote. Here is some key information about the EPIC card:

About EPIC Voter ID

• The EPIC card is issued by the Election Commission of India to every eligible citizen who has registered to vote.
• It contains the voter’s name, photo, voter ID number, polling booth details etc.
• The card serves as an identity proof at the time of voting to verify that the person is a genuine voter.
• Having an EPIC card is not compulsory for voting. Other approved photo IDs like Aadhaar, PAN card, Passport etc can also be shown at the polling booth.
• But having an EPIC makes the voting process smoother as it establishes the voter’s details on the electoral roll.

How to Apply for EPIC Card

• Any Indian citizens who are 18 years or older can apply for a voter ID card.
• The application form needs to be filled either online through the official NVSP website or offline and submitted to the local election office.
• you need to submit Supporting documents like age proof and address proof need to be provided along with a passport size photo.
• After verification, a voter ID card will be issued within 1-2 months.
• The card needs to be checked for accuracy once received and any errors should be reported immediately.

Tracking EPIC Application Status

• The status of new EPIC card applications or modifications can be tracked on the NVSP website.
• Applicants need to enter details like reference ID to see the real-time status.
• The various statuses displayed during processing are application received, under scrutiny, approved, rejected, printed, dispatched etc.
• Tracking regularly will help detect any errors or issues early on.
• In case of no update, the election office can be contacted directly to follow up.

The EPIC voter ID card is a very important document for exercising the fundamental right to vote in India. Every eligible citizen should proactively apply for and receive their card well in time before elections

What is E-Ballots

we know that India uses electronic voting machines (EVMs) to enable voters to cast their votes securely and efficiently. The EVMs are designed and developed by two government-owned companies, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).

The EVMs have undergone multiple generations of upgrades to improve security and ease of use. The latest is M3 EVMs contain a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system which allows voters to verify their vote was cast correctly.

Here’s how the EVM and VVPAT system works:

• When a voter presses a button on the EVM to cast their vote, a paper slip is printed showing the serial number, name, and symbol of the candidate they selected.
• This paper slip is visible to the voter through a transparent window for 7 seconds before it automatically gets cut and falls into a sealed drop box.
• At the end of voting, the EVMs and VVPAT paper slips can be cross-checked to verify the results. This provides a paper audit trail to ensure the electronic results match.

Some key security features of the EVMs:

• Standalone Machines: The EVMs are not connected to any network or the internet. This prevents any remote hacking.
• Secure Design: The EVMs are designed to be tamper-proof. The controlling microchips are one-time programmable and cannot be rewritten or manipulated.
• Randomization: The EVMs are randomized before polling to associate the ballot button positions with candidate serial numbers. This prevents targeting a specific EVM.
• Mock Poll: A mock poll of at least 50 votes is conducted at every polling station prior to the actual poll to verify the EVM is working accurately.

The EVM and VVPAT system enables efficient, secure, and verifiable voting for India’s 900 million eligible voters. These electronic ballots help ensure free and fair elections at scale across the country.

Polling Day

Polling day is the day when eligible citizens go to their designated polling stations to cast their votes. For the upcoming general elections in India, polling day will take place over several phases between April 11 to May 19, 2024.

On polling day:

• Polling stations are open from 7am to 6pm. Voters in the queue at 6pm are still allowed to vote even after closing time.
• Voters must bring their EPIC card or one of the alternative photo ID proofs to verify identity before casting their vote.
• Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing is recommended due to COVID-19. Voters will undergo thermal screening at the entry point.
• Ballot unit and control unit will be sanitized after each vote is cast.
• Marked fingers will be sanitized before the indelible ink is applied.
• Photography is not allowed inside the polling booth.
• Carry your own pen for signing documents and pressing the EVM button.

Do’s:

• Verify your name on the electoral roll and booth number before going to vote.
• Read the instructions carefully before voting on the EVM.
• Ask polling officers if you need any assistance or clarification.

Don’ts:

• Don’t carry your mobile phone inside the voting compartment.
• Don’t click pictures or selfies inside the polling station.
• Don’t disclose your voting choice to anyone.

With proper planning and precautions, polling day can be a smooth and successful democratic exercise for citizens.