Voting 101: Your Ultimate Guide for Lok Sabha Elections 2024

As approximately 97 crore Indians prepare to cast their votes in the eagerly awaited Lok Sabha elections of 2024 starting from April 19, 2024, there will be 19.74 crore young voters aged 20-29 years exercising their franchise, with 1.8 crore youth participating as first-time voters.

Here is a guide for these first-time voters to exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 as provided by the Election Commission of India.

Enrollment

The Election Commission of India offers online voter registration for Indian citizens who have reached the age of 18 on the qualifying date (1st of January of the year of revision of electoral roll). A citizen can enroll themselves as a General Voter and complete Form 6 online at the National Voters’ Service Portal. Additionally, registered voters are urged to verify their enrollment status.

To ascertain their voter registration status, citizens must visit electoralsearch dot in to determine if they are registered to vote. If their name appears in the list, they are eligible to vote; otherwise, they must complete the registration process.

Citizens must visit vorterportal dot eci dot gov dot in (Beta) for voter registration. They can also utilize the Voter Helpline App (iOS version) to verify their name in the Electoral Roll or register online.

Online Registration for Voting

General Voters must complete Form 6 (Link to online form). This form is also applicable for ‘First-time voters’ and ‘voters who have relocated to another constituency’.

NRI Voters are required to fill out form 6A (Link to online form)

To request deletion or raise an objection in the electoral roll, complete form 7 (link to online form)

Complete Form 8 (Link to online form) for any changes in (Name, Photo, Age, EPIC Number, Address, Date of birth, Age, Name of relative, Type of relation, Gender).

If moving from one residence to another within the same constituency, complete Form 8A (Link to online form).

Voters must complete Form 6 (Link to online form) when shifting from one constituency to another. For further information, voters can visit the voter guide website ecisveep dot nic dot in.

Deadlines and Important Dates

The voter list is continuously updated until the final date for the filing of nominations by the candidate.

Requirements for Voter Registration

Eligibility criteria for voter enrollment include:

Being an Indian citizen.

Attaining the age of 18 years on the qualifying date i.e., 1st of January of the year of the electoral roll revision.

Being an ordinary resident of the part/polling area of the constituency where enrollment is sought.

Not being disqualified for enrollment as an elector.

Offline Voter Registration Process

In addition to the online mode, voters can also enroll offline by completing two copies of Form 6. These forms are available free of cost at the offices of Electoral Registration Officers / Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers.

The application, along with copies of relevant documents, can be submitted in person to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer / Assistant Electoral Registration Officer or sent by post or handed over to the Booth Level Officer of the polling area. Voters can also seek assistance by calling the 1950 helpline.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 on March 16, informed that a total of 96.8 crore electors are registered to exercise their franchise in the upcoming elections. These include 49.7 million male and 47.1 million female voters. The electorate also comprises 88.4 lakh persons with disabilities, 19.1 lakh service voters, 2.18 lakh centenarians, and approximately 82 lakh voters aged 85 and above.

The Lok Sabha elections of 2024 will be conducted in seven phases commencing on April 19. Subsequent phases are scheduled for April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. Vote counting will take place on June 4.