How to Apply for a New Voter ID Card Online

Every Indian citizen aged 18 or above is eligible to vote in elections. Getting your Voter ID (officially called the EPIC card, or Electors Photo Identity Card) is completely free of cost and can now be done online through the Election Commission of India's Voters' Services Portal. You do not need to visit any government office to apply.

Here is a complete walkthrough of how to apply for a new Voter ID online using Form 6, including how to track your application and what to do if something goes wrong.

What you need before you start

Keep these documents scanned and ready before you begin the application. Each file should be under 2MB in JPEG, PNG, or PDF format.

Step 1: Visit the Voters' Services Portal

Go to the Voters' Services Portal. Click on Sign Up if you do not have an account, or Login if you already registered previously. For new sign-ups, you will need your mobile number and an email address for verification.

Step 2: Open Form 6

Once logged in, look for the Forms section on the dashboard. Click on Form 6 (Application for New Voter Registration).

Step 3: Fill out the application form

Form 6 is divided into multiple sections. Take your time filling each section carefully, since errors here are the number one reason for application rejection.

1. State and Constituency: Select your State, District, and Assembly Constituency. If you are unsure about your constituency, use the ECI Electoral Search tool to find it using your address or PIN code.
2. Personal Details: Enter your full name (as it appears on your age proof), gender, date of birth, and your father's/mother's/spouse's name. Be especially careful about spelling here since any mismatch with your documents can lead to rejection.
3. Contact Details: Enter your mobile number and email ID. This is required to receive status updates and BLO visit notifications.
4. Address Details: Enter your complete permanent and current address, including house number, street, locality, PIN code, and landmark. The BLO will visit this address for physical verification, so make sure you are reachable here.

Step 4: Upload documents

Upload your scanned photograph, age proof, and address proof in the designated sections. Pay attention to the following constraints:

• Maximum file size: 2MB per document
• Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, or PDF
• Photo requirements: Passport-size, front-facing, recent, with a plain background. No selfies or group photos.
• Ensure the text in your scanned documents is clearly legible. Blurry uploads are the second most common reason for rejection.

Step 5: Declare and submit

1. Fill in the declaration section, mentioning your town or village and the date.
2. Enter the CAPTCHA code.
3. Click on Preview and Submit.
4. Review all the details on the preview page very carefully. Check your name spelling, date of birth, father's name, and address against your uploaded documents.

If everything is correct, click Submit.

Step 6: BLO verification and tracking

After submission, you will receive a Reference Number on your screen and via SMS. Keep this number safe. You can use it to track your application status on the portal under Track Application Status.

Here is what happens after you submit:

1. A Booth Level Officer (BLO) is assigned to verify your application. The BLO is a government employee (usually a teacher or a Block Development Officer) responsible for the electoral roll in your polling booth area.
2. The BLO will visit your home physically to confirm you actually live at the address you provided. They may ask to see your original documents. This visit usually happens within 15 to 30 days of submission.
3. If the BLO is satisfied, they forward your application to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) with a recommendation.
4. The ERO reviews and approves your application. Once approved, your name is added to the electoral roll.
5. Your physical Voter ID card (EPIC card) will be sent to your registered address by post within 30 to 45 days after ERO approval.

Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection

These are the errors that lead to the most Form 6 rejections, based on ERO feedback:

• Name mismatch: Your name on the application does not match your uploaded age proof exactly. Even a missing middle name or initial can trigger rejection.
• Blurry documents: The uploaded scans are too dark, cropped, or low-resolution for the BLO to verify.
• Wrong form used: You already have a Voter ID in another constituency and used Form 6 instead of Form 8. The system catches duplicate Aadhaar numbers.
• Underage applicant: You have not yet turned 18 by the qualifying date (January 1 of the current year).
• BLO could not verify address: Nobody was home during the BLO's visit, or the address does not exist. If the BLO cannot reach you after two attempts, the application is rejected.

Troubleshooting

The portal shows "OTP not received" during sign-up: Try again after a few minutes. The ECI portal's SMS gateway can be slow during peak times (especially before elections). If you still do not receive it, switch to email-based OTP verification.

My application was rejected. Can I re-apply? Yes. Read the rejection reason carefully (it will be shown in your application status), fix the issue, and submit a fresh Form 6 application. There is no limit on re-applications.

The BLO has not visited even after 30 days: Call the toll-free Election Commission helpline at 1950 or visit the District Election Officer's office in person with your reference number. You can also tweet to your state's Chief Electoral Officer handle for faster resolution.

I moved to a new address after submitting. What do I do? You must withdraw your current application (if still pending) and submit a new Form 6 with the correct address. You cannot update the address on a pending application.

Related Guides

• How to Download e-EPIC (Digital Voter ID)
• How to Download e-Aadhaar Online
• How to Link PAN with Aadhaar

Need more help?

For more information, check out our Identity & KYC guides or try our calculators.