As India gears up for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it's time for you, as a responsible citizen, to check if your name is in the voters' list of the Election Commission. What if your name is missing from the voters' list? Would you still be able to vote? Unfortunately, no, you would not be able to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) would not consider you a voter if your name is missing from the electoral roll or voters' list; even though you are above 18 years of age and carry a valid voter ID. Your name and other details must appear in the voters' list for you to be eligible to vote this election season.
How to know if your name is missing from the voters' list?
Step 1: Visit the official website of National Voters' Service Portal (NVSP) or click here to directly go to the page
Step 2: Search for 'Search Your Name in Electoral Roll' on the left side of the NVSP page. When you have found it, click on it. You will be taken to another page.
Step 3: Enter your name, age or date of birth, father/husband's name, gender, state, district and Lok Sabha constituency.
Step 4: Enter the CAPTCHA code which is necessary and then click on 'Search'.
If your name and other details appear at the bottom of the NVSP website, you are eligible to vote in the Lok Sabha election 2019.
OR
Step 1: Visit the official website of Election Commission of India -- eci.nic.in
Step 2: Scroll down and keep looking for 'SEARCH NAME IN VOTER LIST'
Step 3: Enter your name, age or date of birth, father/husband's name, gender, state, district and Lok Sabha constituency. Then, click on 'search'.
You can also check your name through SMS and by making a call.
SMS: Go to your inbox and create a new message. Type EPIC (space) Your Voter ID number then send it to 7738299899.
Call: You can also call the helpline number 1950.
Why is your name not there in the voters' list?
Your name could be missing from the voters' list for several reasons. The Election Commission considers the data you gave it at the time of your enrolment as a voter and it considers the same data at the time of the elections in your constituency. Change in constituency or address can also lead to the removal of your name from the voters' list.
What to do if your name doesn't appear in voters' list?
If your details do not appear after following the above-given steps, this means that your name is missing from the voters' list and you need to register again. However, you will have to act fast because you don't have forever to be eligible to vote in the Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission accepts voters' enrollment 15 days prior to the last day of filing of the candidates' nominations to contest the elections.
Follow the online and offline steps to register yourself as a voter:
Step 1: Visit the official ECI website: eci.nic.in
Step 2: Scroll down to search for 'REGISTER NOW TO VOTE' and click on it.
Step 3: Search for 'Apply online for registration of new voter/due to shifting from AC' and click on the 'Form 16' written just below it
Step 4: Fill in all the details and submit
OR
If you want to submit your application offline, you can download the Form 16 from the ECI's official website, fill in the details and submit it to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of your parliamentary constituency. You will be enrolled as a voter.
Documents required: Passport size photograph, age proof and your address proof. For address proof, you can use either your electricity bill, passport, telephone bill, driving licence or ration card.
The Election Commission has launched a mobile app called 'Voter Helpline' on which you can search the name of contesting candidate in your Lok Sabha constituency, filter search by the phase of the Lok Sabha election, register yourself as a voter and also track the elections.
The country will head for voting in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.