If you’re an Indian citizen, the 2022 state elections are your chance to make your voice heard by voting! But how do you vote in India? And how can you make sure that your vote counts? Here’s how to vote and everything else you need to know about elections in India.
How to Vote as a First Time Voter
To be eligible to vote in India, citizens must have attained a minimum age of 18 years and are required to have been registered as a voter. Note that if you’re an overseas citizen of India (OCI), you’re only eligible to vote if your voting address is in India.
how to apply for a voter id
To apply for a voter ID card, there are two ways. You can either go to your local office of the Election Commission of India or apply online.
Where can I find the list of polling stations near me?
In most states, you can find your polling station on the Election Commission of India website. If your state hasn’t been listed, or if there’s a discrepancy in the information available online, Google it (your polling station) with [state name] election commission. You should be able to get more information quickly! Now that you know where to vote and then let’s look at how...
What do I need to bring with me on election day?
Make sure you have all required paperwork with you, including your proof of identity (identity card or passport) and proof of address (driving license, utility bill, etc.) If you are registered to vote by post, make sure that someone else brings your voting papers and postal vote. If they do not have these papers with them at home, they will not be able to vote on your behalf.
Do I have to show my photo ID at the polling station?
Yes, all voters must have their photo ID with them. If you don’t have a photo ID with your current address on it, or if your name is different from what’s on your voter registration card, bring a utility bill or bank statement that has your new address on it.
How will I know who the candidates are in my constituency?
You can find out who your constituency’s candidates are on your voter ID card or by using Google or another search engine. You can also visit www.affidavit.eci.gov.in to see a list of all constituencies and their corresponding candidate lists.
What should I do if there is no queue at my polling station when I go vote?
If your polling station is not at capacity, or if there is no queue (which maybe because there are no candidates running in your constituency), then you have a choice. You can either join a long queue and vote later or leave your polling station entirely and return before they close at 5 pm. You will still be able to cast your vote as long as it’s not over 6 pm by the time you get back to your station.
Is there any way someone can keep track of how I voted on election day, even if they aren't at my polling station with me while I'm voting?
The Election Commission has launched a Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) system in all polling stations, to prevent fraud. The VVPAT system generates a receipt for each vote cast by a voter and allows them to verify if their vote was cast correctly. Once votes are recorded, there is no way for any party or person to change them, unless they hack into all of India’s electronic voting machines.
0 Comments