In India, the electoral system encompasses various categories of voters. Understanding these categories is crucial for ensuring inclusive participation in the democratic process. This article delves into the three main categories of electors: General, Overseas, and Service Electors.
Question 1. What are the main categories of electors in India?
Answer: There are 3 categories of electors in India: – (i) General electors (ii) Oversees (NRI) electors , and(iii) Service Electors .
Question 2. What is the condition for getting registered in electoral roll?
Answer: Applicant should be i. An Indian citizen, ii. of 18 years or more of age with reference to qualifying dates, iii. ordinary resident of the area concerned.
Also Read: FAQ’s on EVM/VVPAT
Question 3. What is the relevant date for determining the age of 18 years? Can I get myself registered as a voter on the day when I have completed 18 years of age?
Answer: With the amendment made in Section 14(b) of the Representation of the People Act 1950,four qualifying dates i.e., 01st January, 01st April, 01st July and 01st October have come into effect in place of one qualifying date of 1st January. Any eligible citizen who has completed or is completing 18 years of age on any of the four qualifying date of the year can submit advance application in Form-6 for registration any time in the year from the date of draft publication of electoral roll during SSR. Applications will be processed and registration will be done in the relevant quarter in which the applicant attains the qualifying age of 18 years.
Question 4. When will the ERO process the advance claims received with respect to the subsequent qualifying dates of the year?
Answer: Such advance claims received during Annual Summary Revision and also after final publication shall be disposed of by the EROs in the concerned subsequent quarters only under continuous updation, in the first month of subsequent quarter.
Question 5. What is the relevant date for revision of electoral roll after the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 came into existence?
Answer: The Annual Summary Revision is conducted with reference to 01st January of the year only, in which the roll is finally published, as qualifying date. During a nonelection year, no regular revision activities would be there for the subsequent qualifying dates of the year. However, during a year when general election to State Assembly of House of People is due, a second Summary Revision may be conducted w.r.t. the qualifying date proximate to the said general election. However, there would be no restriction on filing of advance application with reference to the subsequent qualifying dates of summary revision in a year and such advance applications will be disposed of under continuous updation.
Question 6. Can a non-citizen of India become a voter in the electoral rolls in India?
Answer: No. A person who is not a citizen of India is not eligible for registration as a voterin the electoral rolls in India. Even those who have ceased to be citizens of India on acquiring the citizenship of another country are not eligible to be enrolled in the electoral rolls in India.
Question 7. Can a non-resident Indian settled in foreign land become an elector of electoral roll in India?
Answer: Yes. According to the provisions of Sec 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2010, a person who is a citizen of India and who has not acquired the citizenship of any other country and is otherwise eligible to be registered as a voter and who is absenting from his place of ordinary residence in India owing to his employment, education or otherwise is eligible to be registered as a voter in the constituency in which his place of residence in India as mentioned in his passport is located.
Question 8. How can one get registered/enrolled in the electoral roll?
Answer: One has to file the application for the purpose, in prescribed Form 6(6A in case of overseas Indian), before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO)/Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) of the constituency within which the place of ordinary residence of the applicant falls. The application accompanied by copies of the relevant documents can be filed in person before the concerned ERO/AERO or sent by post or can be handed over to the Booth Level Officer of polling area concerned, or can be filed online through NVSP portal/VHA mobile application or on website of Chief Electoral Officer of the concerned state/ECI. While filing Form 6 on line, the copies of necessary documents should also be uploaded.
Question 9. From where registration forms can be obtained?
Answer: Forms can be downloaded from the website of Election Commission of India. Forms are also available free of cost in offices of Electoral Registration Officers / Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers of the concerned polling station areas.
Question 10. What documents are required to be enclosed with Form 6?
Answer: One recent passport size coloured photograph, duly affixed in the box given for the purpose in Form 6 and photo-copies of documentary proof of age and residence are required to be enclosed with Form 6. The list of documentary proof of DoB and residence which can be enclosed with Form 6 is given in the form itself and guidelines appended thereto. For filling up Form 6, the said guidelines enclosed therewith may be referred to.
Question 11. Is it mandatory to provide the Aadhaar details of the applicant in the field provided in the Forms for registration?
Answer: No it is a purely voluntary field and non-submission of Aadhaar details shall not be a ground for the rejection of the application by the Electoral Registration Officer. It is expected from the applicant to furnish the Aadhaar details voluntarily for the sake of purification of electoral roll.
Question 12. I am a student staying at the place of study in a hostel / mess far from my native place. I want to get myself registered at my present address of residence. What should I do?
Answer: In case of a student residing at the place of study, in hostel or mess managed by the educational institutions or elsewhere will have the option to get himself / herself registered as elector at his / her native place with his / her parents or at the address of hostel / mess where he / she is resident for the time being for pursuing his / her studies. The course pursued by the said students should be recognized by Central / State Governments / Boards / Universities / Deemed Universities and such courses should be of not less than 1 year’s duration. Such student who wants to enrol himself / herself at the hostel / mess will have to attach a bonafide certificate (as per the specimen at Annexure II of Guidelines attached to Form 6 available on the website of Election Commission) from the Headmaster / Principal / Director / Registrar / Dean of his/her educational institution with Form 6
Question 13. A homeless person, who is otherwise eligible for registration as an elector, does not possess documentary proof of ordinary residence. What is the procedure of verification in such case?
Answer: In case of homeless persons, the Booth Level Officer will visit the address given in Form 6 at night to ascertain that the homeless person actually sleeps at the place which is given as his address in Form 6. If the Booth Level Officer is able to verify that the homeless person actually sleeps at that place, no documentary proof of place of residence shall be necessary. Booth Level Officer must visit for more than one night for such verification. After conducting such verification and to the satisfaction of ERO that the person fulfills all the prescribed conditions, necessary action for enrolment shall be done.
Question 14. I am a tenant and my landlord does not want me to get enrolled. How can I get enrolled as a voter? Who is competent authority to verify claim applications and objections?
Answer: To get enrolled in the voter list is your statutory right. Please check the electoral roll of your area available on website of Election Commission / Chief Electoral Officer of the state / in office of Electoral Registration Officer / Assistant Electoral Registration Officer. If your name is not included in the roll, please fill up Form 6 and submit it to the ERO/ AERO/ Booth Level Officer.
Question 15. Where the postal address of the Electoral Registration Officers can be obtained from?
Answer: Postal addresses of all Electoral Registration Officers are available on the website of Election Commission of India / Chief Electoral Officers of respective State / Union Territory (link to which has been provided on the Election Commission of India website).
Question 16. If I apply on line, whether I need to send physical signed copy of the form with documents to the Electoral Registration Officer’s address?
Answer: As soon as the ERO/AERO receives Form 6 filed on line, the same would be downloaded and BLO would be deputed to visit your residence for verification.
Question 17. Where can the list of claims and objections be seen?
Answer: It can be seen on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer of the State concerned. It can also be seen on the notice board at the office of the Electoral Registration Officer.
Question 18. How will an applicant know that his/her name is included in the electoral roll?
Answer: The decision of the Electoral Registration Officer will be communicated to the applicant by post on his address given by him in Form 6 and also by SMS on the mobile number given by him in Form 6. Electoral rolls are also available on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer of the State concerned and can be seen by anybody.
Question 19. How can corrections be made if there are some mistakes in the entries in the electoral roll pertaining to electors?
Answer: For correction of mistakes in electoral rolls, an application in Form 8 is to be submitted to the Electoral Registration Officer concerned.
Question 20. I have shifted from my residence where I am registered an elector to some other place. How do I ensure that I am enrolled in my new place of residence?
Answer: In case the shifting, please fill form 8 and submit to the ERO of the constituency where your new residence is located.
Question 21. I have shifted my residence recently. I have Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) with the old address. Can I get new EPIC for the present address?
Answer: First of all, you have to ensure that you are enrolled in the electoral roll of the concerned Assembly Constituency in which your new address is located. The Electoral Registration Officer will issue a new EPIC, with the same number, of the shifted address.
Question 22. My EPIC has some errors. What is the procedure to have a new EPIC with correct particulars?
Answer: You can make an application in Form 8 for rectification of the errors in your EPIC. The Electoral Registration Officer will issue a new EPIC, with the same number, after making the necessary corrections.
Question 23. I have lost my old EPIC. How can I get a new EPIC?
Answer: A replacement EPIC can be issued to an elector on the receipt of Form-8 for the purpose, alongwith a copy of FIR/Police Report.
Question 24. Who can object to the inclusion of names in electoral rolls?
Answer: Any person who is a voter in the concerned constituency may object to the inclusion of names in electoral roll on the ground that the person whose names is included or is proposed to be included is not eligible to be registered as a voter in that constituency. An objection can be made in Form 7 to the concerned ERO along with the relevant proof.
Question 25. My neighbour / relative has shifted his residence to a new place but his name still continues in the electoral roll. In which Form the application for deletion of his name from the electoral roll can be made?
Answer: For deletion of name of a shifted/dead/absentee elector, application can be made in Form 7. For deletion of a duplicate entry also, application should be made in Form 7.
Question 26. When can one get registered in electoral roll. Is enrollment being on throughout the year.
Answer: The Election Commission normally orders revision of existing electoral roll every year sometime in the months of September to October and such revised rolls are finally published in first week of January of the coming year. One can submit claim application (Form 6) during period for lodging claims and objections to Electoral Registration Officer or an officer designated to receive such applications, i.e., Designated Officer. Even after final publication, the rolls are updated continuously and one can get registered anytime during the continuous updation by filing a claim application to ERO/AERO.
Question 27. Can one be enrolled at more than one place?
Answer: No. A person cannot be enrolled as a voter at more than one place in view of the provisions contained in Sections 17 and 18 of Representation of the People Act, 1950. Likewise, no person can be enrolled as an elector more than once in any electoral roll. Any person while applying for fresh enrolment, makes a statement or declaration that his/her name isnot included in the electoral roll of any other constituency, and if such statement/declaration is false and which the applicant either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, he is liable to be punished under section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Question 28. If I have a complaint against the order of Electoral Registration Officer, to whom I should make an appeal?
Answer: During the period of revision, you can file an appeal to the District Election Officer. In the case of the period of continuous updation, such appeal against any order of ERO will lie before the District Magistrate/Additional DM/Executive Magistrate/ District Collector of the District concerned. A further appeal against the order of Appellate Authority will lie before the Chief Electoral Officer of the State.
Question 29. Who is an overseas (NRI) elector? Can an NRI settled in foreign land become an elector of electoral roll in India?
Answer: An overseas elector is a person who is a citizen of India and who has not acquired citizenship of any other country and is otherwise eligible to be registered as a voter and who is absenting from his place of ordinary residence in India owing to his employment, education or otherwise is eligible to be registered as a voter in the constituency in which his place of residence in India as mentioned in his passport is located. According to the provisions of Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, an NRI settled in foreign land can become an elector in electoral roll in India.
Question 30. How can an overseas Indian (NRI) get registered / enrolled in the electoral roll?
Answer: He/she has to file an application for the purpose in prescribed Form 6A before the Electoral Registration Officer / Assistant Electoral Registration Officer of the constituency within which the place of ordinary residence of the applicant in India asgiven in his/her passport falls. The application accompanied by duly self-attested copy of the relevant documents can be filed in person before the concerned ERO/ AERO or sent by post addressed to him or can be filed online through NVSP portal/ VHA mobile app or on the website of Chief Electoral Officer of the concerned stat/ ECI.
Question 31. What documents are required to be enclosed with Form 6A?
Answer: One recent passport size coloured photograph, duly affixed in Form 6A, photo- copies of the relevant pages of the passport containing photograph, his address in India and all other particulars of the applicant and also the page of passport containing the validvisa endorsement.
Question 32. Where the entries pertaining to overseas (NRI) elector find place in the electoral roll?
Answer: Name of overseas elector is included in a separate section for “Overseas Electors” which is the last section of the roll of that particular part / polling station area of the constituency in which his place of residence in India as mentioned in his passport is located.
Question 33. Whether Electoral Registration Officer is to be informed of the change in current residential address of the overseas (NRI) electors in the country of his/her residence?
Answer: Yes. It is the responsibility of the overseas elector to keep the Electoral Registration Officer informed of the change in residential address in the country of his/her residence.
Question 34. Whether Electoral Registration Officer is to be informed when the overseas (NRI) elector returns to India and becomes ordinarily resident in India?
Answer: Yes. An overseas elector must do so. In such a case, the person can then be registered as a general elector at the place where he is ordinarily resident in India.
Question 35. How can an overseas (NRI) elector whose name is enrolled in the electoral roll exercise his/her franchise?
Answer: After enrolment, an overseas (NRI) elector becomes able to cast his/her vote in an election in the Constituency, in person, at the polling station provided for the part where he/she is registered as an overseas (NRI) elector.
Question 36. Is an overseas (NRI) elector issued an EPIC?
Answer: An overseas (NRI) elector is not issued an EPIC as he is allowed to cast his vote in an election in the constituency, in person at the polling station on production of his original passport.
Question 37. Whether the overseas (NRI) elector should surrender EPIC, if already issued to him, in India?
Answer: Yes. The overseas elector should surrender EPIC, if already issued to him, in India, along with submission of Form 6 A.
Question 38. Who is a service voter?
Answer: Service voter is a voter having service qualification. According to the provisions of sub-section (8) of Section 20 of Representation of the People Act, 1950, service qualification means – (a) Being a member of the armed Forces of the Union; or (b) Being a member of a force to which provisions of the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), have been made applicable whether with or without modification; (c) Being a member of an Armed Police Force of a State, and serving outside that state; or (d) Being a person who is employed under the Government of India, in a post outside India.
Question 39. What are the application Forms in which various categories of service voters have to apply for enrollment as elector?
Answer: Following are the application Forms in which various categories of service voters are to make application for enrollment as service voter: – 1. Members of Armed Forces – Form 2 2. Members of Armed Police Force of a State, serving outside that State – Form 2 A 3. Persons employed under Government of India on post outside India – Form 3 However, if a service personnel has opted to get himself enrolled as general elector at place of his posting, where he is actually residing, he will have to apply in Form 6 like other general electors.
Question 40. What is the process of enrollment of any service personnel as a service voter?
Answer: Election Commission normally orders revision/updation of rolls for service voters every year. The Commission sends a communication to Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs intimating them of the commencement of revision programme. As soon as the programme is announced, persons having service qualification can fill up the application in statutory Form 2 / 2A / 3, and handover to the officer in-charge of record office or the nodal authority in Ministry of External Affairs (in case of persons employed under Government of India on a post outside India). All the activities of summary revision including submission of Forms by eligible service personnel through their Record Officer/Commanding Officer are done online through service voters portal exclusively meant for service personnel. The person applying in Form 2 / 2A has also to submit a declaration to the effect that he did not get enrolled as general elector in any constituency which is the part of the Form itself. The officer in-charge, after verification of the Form forwards the same to the Electoral Registration Officer concerned to process the Form and to take necessary action for enrolment.
Question 41. Is spouse (wife or husband) or son/daughter of a service voter also enrolled as a service voter?
Answer: The spouse of a service voter shall, if he/she is ordinarily residing with his/her spouse, can also be registered as service voter in the constituency specified by that person. The service voter has to make a statement to the effect in the relevant Form 2/2A/3 that his/her wife/husband ordinarily resides with him/her. The wife/ husband will be enrolled as a service voter on the basis of declaration made by her husband/his wife in the application form itself submitted by him/her and no separate declaration / application is required to be made by the wife/husband. A son/daughter/relative/servant etc. residing ordinarily with a service voter cannot be enrolled as service voter.
Question 42. Can one be enrolled simultaneously as a service voter at his native place as well as a general voter at the place of posting?
Answer: No. A person, at a particular time, cannot be enrolled as a voter at more than one place in view of the provisions contained under Sections 17 and 18 of Representation of People Act, 1950. Likewise, no person can be enrolled as an elector more than once in any electoral roll. As explained above, a service voter has option either to get himself registered as service voter at his native place or as general elector at the place of posting. When a person applies for registration as a service voter in Form 2 / 2A, he has to submit a declaration in a prescribed format to the effect that he did not get enrolled as ordinary general elector in any constituency.
Question 43. Who is a Classified Service Voter?
Answer: Service voter belonging to Armed Forces or forces to which provisions of Army Act, 1950 are applicable, has option of either voting through postal ballot or through a proxy voter duly appointed by him. A service voter who opts for voting through a proxy is called Classified Service Voter (CSV).
Question 44. Who is a proxy? What is the procedure of appointment of a proxy?
Answer: A service voter may appoint (by applying to Returning Officer in Form 13 F of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 – Form available at the website of Election Commission) any person as his / her proxy to give vote on his / her behalf and in his / her name at the polling station. The proxy shall have to be ordinary resident of that constituency. He need not be a registered voter but he / she must not be disqualified to be registered as a voter. A proxy can be appointed in the following two ways: – (i). If a service voter is at the place of his posting, he has to put his signature in Form 13F before the Commanding Officer of the Unit and then to send the Form to his proxy for affixing his / her signature before a Notary / First Class Magistrate. Thereafter, the proxy can submit the Form to the Returning Officer concerned. (ii). If a service voter is at his native place, both he and his proxy can sign Form 13 F before a Notary / First Class Magistrate and then send to the Returning Officer concerned.
Question 45. Can a Classified Service Voter be issued postal ballots by the Returning Officer?
Answer: A Classified Service Voter cannot be issued postal ballots but the appointed proxy shall physically come and vote at the polling station which covers the classified voter’s home address.
Question 46. For what period a proxy remains valid?
Answer: The provision for voting through proxy is valid till the person making the appointment is a service voter. Once appointed, the proxy will continue until his appointment is revoked by the service voter. The facility of proxy voter can be revoked and the proxy can be changed at any time or for any number of times by the Classified Service Voter. Thus a Classified Service Voter can revoke and opt back for postal ballot route or even substitute the proxy by intimating the Returning Officer in Form 13 G of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 (Form available at the website of Election Commission). Revocation will become effective from the date it is received by the Returning Officer.
Question 47. When should the application for appointment of a proxy be made?
Answer: Application for appointment of a proxy should be received by the Returning Officer before the last date of filing of nomination papers. An application for appointment of a proxy received after the last date of filing nomination papers cannot be considered for the election in progress, though it will be valid for subsequent elections unless revoked / changed
Question 48. In which language the last part of rolls is prepared for service voters?
Answer: The last part containing the list of service voter is prepared in English only.
Question 49. Is a service voter issued Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) like ordinary electors?
Answer: A service voter is not issued Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC). Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is a document of identity which an elector has to show at the polling station at the time of casting his vote. As service voters are issued postal ballots or votes through his “proxy”, they are not required to visit the polling stations personally and therefore Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) is not issued to them.
Question 50. Is a service voter required to apply for issue of a postal ballot paper?
Answer: No; the Returning Officer will himself send a postal ballot paper to him through his record office (or direct or through the Ministry of External Affairs in the case of a service voter serving outside India).
Question 51. What is the relevant date for revision of electoral rolls for Legislative Council Constituencies?
Answer: In the case of Local Authorities Constituencies there is no qualifying date, however the qualifying date for being enrolled in Graduates and Teachers Constituencies 1st day of November of the year in which the preparation or revision of the electoral rolls is commenced.
Question 52. How can one get registered/enrolled in the electoral rolls for Legislative Constituencies?
Answer: For enrolment in electoral roll for Local Authorities Constituencies only ex-officio and nominated members of the Local Authorities in the concerned State are eligible. The application for inclusion can be made in Form 17 to the Electoral Registration Officer. For registration in Graduates and Teachers Constituencies, one has to file the application for the purpose, in prescribed Form 18 or 19 as the case may be, before the ERO/AERO of the constituency within which the place of ordinary residence of the applicant falls. The application accompanied by copies of the relevant documents can be filed in person before the concerned ERO/AERO or sent by post addressed to him.
Question 53. From where Form 17/18/19 can be obtained?
Answer: It can be downloaded from the website of Election Commission of India. Forms are also available free of cost in offices of Electoral Registration Officers / Assistant Electoral Registration Officers.
Question 54. What are the conditions for enrolment in Graduates and Teachers Constituencies?
Answer: For enrolment in a Graduates Constituency one should be an ordinarily resident in that Constituency, and should have, for at least three years before the qualifying date (1st November of the year), been either a Graduate of a university in India or in possession of any of the qualification deemed to be equivalent to that of a Graduate of a university in India. For registration in electoral roll for a Teachers’ Constituency, one should be ordinarily resident in that Constituency and within the six years immediately before the qualifying date (1st November of the year), for a total period of at least three years, should have been engaged in teaching in any of the educational institutions notified by the State Government within the State, not lower than in standard than that of a secondary school.
Question 55. What documents are required to be enclosed with Form 18?
Answer: The eligible person should apply for enrolment of their names in the prescribed Form- 18 along with any of the documents listed below- (i) The degree/diploma certificate, in original, issued by the University or Institution concerned or a copy thereof, duly authenticated by the Designated Officer/ Additional Designated Officer/Gazetted Officer of the District concerned. (ii) A copy of an entry in the Government record or a certificate issued to a Graduate employee by the Gazetted Head of Offices/Institutes on the basis of entries in Government records in his custody or a copy of an entry in the record of Statutory Bodies, Corporations or Public undertakings specifying the degree, diploma or certificate possessed by the claimant, duly at tested by the Head of the office concerned; or (iii) An attested copy of the card of registration as Registered Graduate issued by the University, a certified copy of the relevant entry in the list of Registered Graduates, the Roll of Advocates, the Register of Medical Practitioners, the Register of Chartered Accountants, the Register of Engineers maintained by Institute of Engineers, etc.; or (iv) An Affidavit by the claimant, supported by certificate from the Registrar of a University, or the Principal of a College affiliated to university or from the Head of the Department of such College under whom he had studied; or (v) The mark sheet, in original, issued by the University or Institution concerned or a copy there of, duly authenticated by the Additional Designated Officer/ Gazetted Officer of the District concerned/Notary Public.
Question 56. What documents are required to be enclosed with Form 19?
Answer: Every person applying for enrolment (in Form-19) in Teachers’ constituency must submit documentary proof of having been engaged in teaching in any of the specified educational institutions for a total period of at least three years within six years immediately before the qualifying date. Electoral Registration Officer / Assistant Electoral Registration Officer concerned should make such verification of the documentary proof as he considers necessary. A certificate by the Head of the teaching institution should normally be considered adequate documentary proof of possessing that teaching qualification. If any person, who has applied for inclusion of his name in a teachers’ constituency, has been engaged in teaching in more than on specified educational institutions in the last six years, the certificate from the Head of institution of each of such educational institution will be required for the period for which he was engaged in teaching in that educational institution.
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