1. EVM stands for Electronic Voting Machine.
2. It consists of two Units – a Control Unit and a Balloting Unit – joined by a five-meter cable.
3. The Control Unit is with the Presiding Officer or a Polling Officer and the Balloting Unit is placed inside the voting compartment.
4. Instead of issuing a ballot paper, the Polling Officer in-charge of the Control Unit will press the Ballot Button.
5. This will enable the voter to cast his vote by pressing the blue button on the Balloting Unit against the candidate and symbol of his choice.

EPIC stands for Electors Photo Identity Card commonly known as Voter ID. The Indian voter ID card is an identity document issued by the Election Commission of India which primarily serves as an identity proof for Indian citizens while casting votes in the country's state and national elections.

A system of voting in which people send their votes by post when they are not present at the polling station where they are enrolled as a voter. Below are the list of voters who are entitled to vote by ballot papers:

1. Service Voter - means any person who is required to give his vote by postal ballot under clause (a) of section 60, i.e. (a) members of the armed forces of the Union, (b) members of a force to which the provisions of the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950) have been made applicable whether with or without modifications, (c) members of the armed police force of a State who are serving outside that State, (d) persons who are employed under the Government of India in a post outside India (e.g. Ambassadors and High Commissioner, of India abroad, their staff etc.). Their names are registered in the last part of the electoral sake.
2. Special Voter - means any persons holding an office declared by the President to be an office to which the provisions of sub-section (4) of section 20 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 are declared to apply and the wife of such person if he and his wife have been registered as electors by virtue of a statement made under sub-section (5) of the said section.
3. Elector subjected to Preventive Detention - means any person subjected to preventive detention under any law for the time being in force.
4. A Voter on election duty - means a Polling Agent, a Polling Officer, Presiding Officer or other public servant who is an elector in the constituency and is by reason of his being on election duty, unable to vote at the polling station where he is entitled to vote. Thus, the observers appointed by the Commission and their staff members accompanying them are also voters on election duty.
5. Notified voter - means a voter who belongs to the class of persons notified by the Election Commission under clause (c) of Section 60 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. For enabling notified voters to vote by post, special instructions will be given by the Commission in each such case and the same are not included in this Handbook.

During the poll, a polling station is manned by a team of 4-5 Government officials for conduct of polling at that particular polling station as per the programme announced by Election Commission.

Every polling party is headed by a Presiding Officer. The appointment of Presiding Officer and Polling Officials is made by the District Election Officer. The officials shall be deemed to be on deputation to the Election Commission for the period during which they are so employed and shall, during that period, be subject to the control, superintendence and discipline of the Election Commission.

1. General Electors: Every Indian citizen who has attained the age of 18 years on the qualifying date i.e. first day of January of the year of revision of electoral roll, unless otherwise disqualified, is eligible to be registered as a voter in the roll of the part/polling area of the constituency where he is ordinarily resident.
2. Overseas (NRI) Electors: 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.
3. Service Electors: Service elector is a elector having service qualification. You can enroll as a service voter if you are:
   1. In the Armed Forces of India.
   2. From Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, ITBF, GREF in Border Road Organization; Central Industrial Security Force.
   3. Employed under the Government of India, in a post outside India.
   4. Member of an Armed Police Force of a State, and serving outside that state.

According to Section 14 (b) of the Representation of People Act, 1950 the relevant date (qualifying date) for determining the age of an applicant is the first day of January of the year in which the electoral roll after revision is finally published.

For example, if you have completed or are completing 18 years of age on any date from and after 2nd January 2013 but upto to 1st January 2014, you will be eligible for registration as a voter in the elector roll going to be finally published in January, 2014.

The relevant date for revision of electoral roll is 1st January of the year in which the roll is finally published.

Following documents need to be enclosed with form 6:

1. One recent passport size colored photograph duly affixed in the box given for the purpose in Form 6.
2. Photocopies of documentary proof of age and residence are required to be enclosed with Form 6.

For deletion of name of a shifted / dead / absentee elector from the electoral roll application can be made in Form 7 Download.

1. For deletion of a duplicate entry also, application should be made in Form 7.
2. Any person who is a voter in the concerned constituency may object to the inclusion of name in electoral roll on the ground that the person whose names is included or proposed to be included is not eligible to be registered as a voter in that constituency.
3. An objection can be made in Form 7 to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer along with the relevant proof.

When you enter the polling station, you will go to the First Polling Officer who is in-charge of the marked copy of the electoral roll and responsible for identification of electors.

You should keep your identity document ready to show to the First Polling Officer which includes your EPIC or any other supporting photo identity proof issued by the government.

Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at each polling station:-

1. Provision for ramp
2. Provision for drinking water
3. Adequate furniture
4. Proper lighting
5. Help Desk
6. Proper signage
7. Toilet

For the purpose of preparation and revision of electoral rolls of a constituency, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Government of the State, designates/nominates an officer of the State Government concerned, as Electoral Registration Officer. Electoral Registration Officer is the statutory authority to prepare the electoral roll of the Constituency under his charge.

MCC stands for Modal Code of Conduct.

1. A visible and rigorous enforcement of Model Code of Conduct enhance the credibility of the elections and gives confidence to the stakeholders/voters.
2. It is ensured that official machinery for the electoral purposes is not misused. It is also ensured that electoral offences, malpractices and corrupt practices such as impersonation, bribing and inducement of voters, threat and intimidation to the voters, is prevented by all means. Introduction of photo electoral roll by the Election Commission is expected to play a crucial role in minimizing the scope for impersonation.

1. Internet users can access the information by following "National Electoral Search" provided on the website of the National Voters Service Portal (NVSP).
2. In order to access the services through SMS, Voters must send a pre-formatted SMS with a word "ECI" followed by details such as name, name of father/husband, locality, age or date of birth and gender separated by commas.
3. As an example, an SMS "ECI Prabhat Singla" would fetch the details of a voter by name "Prabhat Singla" on a nationwide search of voters

The application should be addressed to the Electoral Registration Officer of the constituency in which he seeks registration. The name of the constituency should be mentioned in the blank space given for the purpose.

The applicant applying as a first time voter or due to shifting from another constituency, should tick the appropriate box, given for the purpose and fill the complete details in the DECLARATION portion, otherwise, the application is liable to be rejected at the initial stage itself. Click here for details

1. Fill Form 6 online at www.nvsp.in. Copies of necessary documents should also be uploaded.
2. Form 6 is also available free of cost in offices of Electoral Registration Officers / Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers.
3. The application accompanied by copies of the relevant documents can be filed in person before the concerned Electoral Registration Officer / Assistant Electoral Registration Officer or sent by post addressed to him or can be handed over to the Booth Level Officer of your polling area.
4. If form is accepted, BLO delivers EPIC or calls you to office.

Applicant is issued prefilled Form No. 001 at the Voter center for issuance of duplicate EPIC, subject to submission of fee of Rs 25 and a declaration about loss of EPIC.

For incorporation of corrections in the Electoral Rolls, You have to submit FORM 8 to the ERO of the Assembly Constituency.

You can do these changes online also by visiting NATIONAL VOTERS SERVICE PORTAL (NVSP).

1. For correction of entries in the Electoral Rolls FORM 8
2. For transposition of entry in electoral roll FORM 8A

1. Visit NVSP Service portal.
2. Fill FORM 7 for application for Objecting Inclusion of Name of Other Person / Seeking Deletion of Own Name/Seeking Deletion of Any Other Person's Name in Electoral Roll due to Death/Shifting.

When elections are announced, Returning Officer of your constituency shall send you the postal ballot.

1. Record your vote by placing clearly a mark opposite the name of the candidate of your choice on the ballot paper; Your vote will be invalid if the mark does not clearly indicate your choice
2. Do not put your signature, any word, sign or any other mark on the ballot paper other than the mark required to record your vote
3. After recording your vote, place the ballot paper in the smaller cover marked 'A' sent herewith; close the cover and secure it by seal
4. Sign the declaration in Form 13A also sent herewith in the presence an officer appointed by the Commanding Officer of the Unit, ship or establishment
5. The officer will attest your signature and return the declaration to you; you must not show your ballot paper to the attesting officer nor tell him how you have voted
6. Place the Declaration and also the smaller cover marked 'A' containing the ballot paper in the larger cover marked 'B'
7. After closing the larger cover, send it to the returning officer by post or by messenger. Give your full signature in the space provided on the cover marked `B'
8. No postage stamp need be affixed by you. You must ensure that the cover reaches the Returning Officer before the specified date

Alternatively be a Classified Service voter (CSV). You can opt for voting through PROXY.

1. Fill Form 13F before the CO and send it to your proxy for his / her signature before a Notary / First Class Magistrate
2. Proxy can submit the Form to the Returning Officer(RO) concerned.
3. If you are at native place, both you and your proxy can sign Form 13 F before a Notary / First Class Magistrate and send to the RO.
4. Application for appointment of a proxy should be received by the RO before the last date of filing of nomination papers.
5. Proxy should be ANY ordinary resident of that constituency; need not be a registered voter but must not be disqualified to be registered as a voter
6. Once appointed, the proxy will continue until his/her appointment is revoked by the service voter
7. Proxy can be changed/ revoked to revert back to postal ballot by filling Form 13G and submitting to RO
8. Proxy appointed by you shall vote physically at the Polling Station of your Constituency

Visit www.nvsp.in/ and search your polling booth. Click here Electoral search

Steps to get your voter slip on the polling day:

1. When you enter the polling station, you will go to the First Polling Officer who is in-charge of the marked copy of the electoral roll and responsible for identification of electors.
2. You should keep your identity document ready to show to the First Polling Officer.
3. The First Polling Officer will then call out your name and serial number so that the polling agents become aware of your presence and your identity is not challenged.
4. Thereafter, if your identity is not challenged, you will proceed to the Second Polling Officer who will mark your left forefinger with the indelible ink.
5. Thereafter, he will proceed to record your serial number in the electoral roll in the Register of Voters.
6. Once this is recorded, you are to sign in the appropriate column in the Register of Voters. If a voter cannot sign, his/her thumb impression will be obtained.
7. Voter slip will be issued to you by the Second Polling Officer on the polling day which will record your serial number in the register of voters and your serial number in the electoral roll.
8. You will then proceed to the Third Polling Officer who will take the voter's slip issued to you by the Second Polling Officer.
9. The Third Polling Officer will press the "Ballot" button on the Control Unit of voting machine and direct you to the voting compartment where you will record your vote on the balloting unit of the voting machine.

The Model Code of Conduct is enforced from the date of announcement of election schedule by the Election Commission and is operational till the process of elections is completed.

You can login to National Grievance Services of election commission and register your complaint. Click here: Modal Code of Conduct.

Vulnerability mapping of areas of weaker sections

1. The Election Commission has come across many cases where polling station in a locality predominantly inhabited by minorities or weaker sections of the society like scheduled caste / scheduled tribe are manipulated in such a way that they have to go to an area where they might be prevented from voting.
2. To ensure full participation of such electors in the electoral process, the Election Commission has introduced the concept of vulnerability mapping. 'Vulnerability mapping' is an exercise to identify the villages / habitats / segments of electorate belonging to minorities or weaker sections of the society like scheduled caste / scheduled tribe, who are vulnerable to any threat, undue influence, intimidation or interference with free exercise of their electoral right.
3. Welfare associations or voluntary organizations championing the cause of such weaker sections are associated in identifying such localities and locating the polling stations.
4. Polling stations may be set up in localities/colonies inhabited by the weaker sections of the society, even though the number of voters may be less than 500.

Guidelines to prevent intimidation to the voters of vulnerable sections of electorate during elections

1. The Election Commission has laid down the following guidelines to prevent intimidation to the voters of vulnerable sections of electorate during elections –
2. District Election Officer shall take a polling station wise exercise to identify the villages/ hamlets/habitats and segments of electorate vulnerable to any threat, intimidation or interference with the free exercise of electoral right. For this purpose, he shall ask the Sector Officers of the respective polling stations to do this exercise by visiting the catchments area of the polling stations. The local Thana officer (SHO) and the local civil authorities such as BDO / Tehsildar shall also be consulted and their inputs taken into account before finalizing the list.
3. The Sector Officers should identify the source of such threat/ intimidation and identify the names of persons who are likely to spearhead such offence of undue influence. While doing this exercise they shall take into account the past incidents and current apprehensions.
4. The Sector Officers shall identify some point of contact within the habitat/ community vulnerable for such undue influence so that information related to such developments can be tracked constantly. The Returning Officer of the Assembly Constituency should compile all such polling station wise information and finalize the vulnerability mapping for the entire constituency.
5. The District Election Officer and Superintendent of Police of district and Commissioner of Police Commissionerate shall initiate all preventive measures to ensure that such intimidation/ obstruction do not really happen on the poll day. They shall initiate confidence-building measures to bolster the voters' confidence about the arrangements for free and fair poll. They shall undertake tours to such locations and meet the communities and explain the arrangements made for free and fair poll.
6. Before the election, the District Election Officer shall interact with the candidates and representatives of political parties to get regular feedback. The District Intelligence shall give regular feedback on the subject to the District Election Officer through Superintendent of Police.
7. Upon the arrival of the observers, the District Election Officer shall hand over the details of the polling station wise vulnerability mapping for the relevant Assembly Constituency. The observer will also visit such locations and interact with the voters and constantly monitor the developments.
8. The District Election Officer and Superintendent of Police of the District and Commissioner of Police should hold a joint review on the subject and finalize a focused action plan to deal with the potential threats and intimidation points identified. The action plan may include, inter-alia, binding the identified trouble mongers under appropriate sections of the law, preventive detention if required, forcing their appearance in local police stations at reasonable intervals to ensure their good behaviour, placement of police pickets, regular confidence building visits etc. It has to be ensured that all such measures are undertaken in absolutely non-partisan manner without fear or favour towards any particular party.
9. The zonal/ and sector arrangements to monitor the events on the poll day shall take such pre-identified vulnerable locations into account for effective tracking. If the normal sector route map does not cover the vulnerable locations, special arrangements shall be made for this purpose. The sector officers shall make regular visits to those villages and hamlets in advance, collect information and keep the senior officers info.
10. Where there is a cluster of such vulnerable pockets, the District Election Officer shall arrange for dedicated police teams/squads and station them at convenient locations in the vicinity, to be pressed into service for action on the day of poll without any loss of time. It should invariably form part of the district security plan.

Special arrangements for voters of vulnerable sections on the day of poll

1. On the day of poll, the sector officers shall pay special attention to verify whether voters from the vulnerable habitats/ communities are turning up for voting or not. In case, they find (it can be gauged from the marked copy of the electoral roll where voters who have voted are ticked) that some sections of voters are conspicuously absent, then they should inform the Returning Officer about this immediately. The Returning Officer and District Election Officer shall dispatch the dedicated squads specifically meant for this purpose, to ascertain, by a visit to the area/hamlet, that there is no hindrance – overt or covert – in the movement of that section of voters. They should closely monitor the developments and initiate effective interventions. After the closing hours on the poll day, the sector officers shall submit a polling station wise special report in writing to the Returning Officers indicating as to whether voters from the vulnerable habitats were able to vote or not.
2. At the time of dispatch of the polling parties at the dispatch centres, the Returning Officer should brief the Presiding Officer(s) concerned about the vulnerable locations within the polling station area. In the electoral roll, the Section within the Part should also be marked for proper monitoring. The presiding officers shall submit a report indicating abnormally low percentage of voter turnout, if any, within any section/sections, particularly, with reference to the vulnerable locations.
3. During the poll, the observers and other senior officers while visiting the polling station shall pay a special attention to this problem and find out whether any undue influence, intimidation/ obstruction is being caused.
4. The police patrolling parties should keep track of the vulnerable locations and keep the control room informed. Wherever necessary, police pickets shall be established to ensure free access to all voters to cast their votes without fear.
5. The Commanders/Assistant Commanders of the Central Para Military Forces shall be given a list of such vulnerable locations. Wherever Central Para Military Forces arrives in advance for area domination, special attention shall be given for such locations. The Commanders/Assistant Commanders shall make it a point to visit such vulnerable pockets as a confidence building measure on the day of poll. In case they come across any obstruction they shall take note of that and immediately inform any of the electoral officials such as Returning Officer /District Election Officer/ SP / Commissioner of Police/Observer/Sector Officer and keep a note of the time of their intimation.
6. If any complaint is received or information gathered from any sources about obstruction/threat to any voter/voters, the same shall be enquired into by the local administration without any delay.
7. The Returning Officers shall take the inputs on mass scale intimidation/threat/obstruction if any, into consideration while submitting their report after the poll.
8. The observers shall give their full attention to this issue and verify at every stage (before poll/on poll day) and submit reports to the Election Commission from time to time. A special mention shall be made about this in their final report. Apart from this, they should make an intelligent reading of the of the register (Form 17A) and the marked copy of the electoral roll used in the polling stations at the time of Form 17A scrutiny, ordered if any, by the Election Commission after the poll.
9. The Election Commission has directed that the accountability of various police and civil officials for vulnerability mapping and follow up at every stage shall be clearly defined with reference to each polling station/constituency. Severe disciplinary action will be initiated in case of dereliction of duty on the part of any police/civil officials in this regard.

Identification of critical polling stations during elections

For making proper planning for law and order arrangements and deployment of security forces during elections, the Election Commission has been following conventional method of identifying normal, sensitive and hyper sensitive polling stations. While adopting this system, past events of violence work as major criteria. However, in the recent years, the Election Commission has improvised the system and now a new and comprehensive system of identifying critical polling stations and critical clusters has been put in place. This new system gives lots of importance for the factors associated with free and fair election process.

What is a 'critical polling station'-

A critical polling station is so identified by the Election Commission before an election on the basis of past history of incidents of violence, intimidation to voters of weaker sections, abnormally high voting in favor of a particular candidate etc. in the earlier elections. The Commission has directed that all such polling stations where percentage of votes polled during past General Election was more than 90% and where more than 75% of votes have been polled in favour of one candidate shall be identified as Critical Polling Stations. The vulnerability mapping gives valid inputs for identification of critical polling stations and critical clusters. The critical polling stations are identified for taking additional measures in advance w.r.t. deployment of security forces and other field officials on the poll day.

Objective criteria to identify critical polling stations –

Following objective criteria should be followed by the District Election Officer / Returning Officer for finalizing the list of critical polling stations in consultation with the Election Commission's Observers :-

1. An analysis of the polling station wise number of voters with Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) and without EPIC (non EPIC voters) shall be made. The polling stations shall be sorted in descending order in terms of number of non-EPIC voters in order to prioritize.
2. The Election Commission has recently directed a survey of missing voters under two categories i.e. missing voters with family links and missing voters without family links. Out of these two categories, the existence of missing voters without family links offers a scope for misuse and malpractice.
3. The number of voters coming under the second category shall be analyzed polling station wise and the polling station with large number of such voters shall be marked. For this purpose the total number of such missing voters without family linkage shall be divided by the total number of polling stations to work out the assembly constituency average. Analyzing the deviation above the average, will help to identify the polling stations with large number of such voters.
4. The polling station wise election results of the past general elections shall be analyzed. All such polling stations where percentage of poll recorded is more than 90% and where more than 75% of votes have been recorded in favour of one candidate shall be identified as critical polling station.
5. The polling stations where there were re-polls during the past elections owing to reported electoral malpractices and the polling stations that witnessed any sort of electoral violence shall also be identified.

Special measures to be taken in respect of critical polling stations The Election Commission has directed that following measures shall be put in place in critical polling stations –

1. The Presiding Officer shall be specially briefed to ensure that the EPIC/approved identification document if any, are properly verified and reflected in the remarks column of voters register (Form 17 A).
2. The presence of Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) may be ensured to safeguard the polling station.
3. The list of such polling stations shall be given to the Commanding / Assistant Commanding Officers of Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) so that they can also keep an eye on such polling stations.
4. A micro-observer may be deployed inside critical polling station. The list of such polling stations where micro-observers are to be deployed will be finally approved by the General observer of the Election Commission and kept confidential in a sealed envelope till the last moment of deployment.
5. Digital camera or video camera shall be positioned in the critical polling station.
6. Arrangements for webcasting may be made in as many polling stations as possible.

Under Article 324(1) of the Constitution of India, the Election Commission of India, inter alia, is vested with the power of superintendence, direction and control of conducting the elections to the offices of the President, Vice-President & Legislative Assembly of India.

Every Indian citizen who has attained the age of 18 years on the qualifying date i.e. first day of January of the year of revision of electoral roll, unless otherwise disqualified, is eligible to be registered as a voter in the roll of the part/polling area of the constituency where he is ordinarily resident.

You are not qualified to be enrolled on the electoral roll/voter list if you are:

1. not a citizen of India
2. of unsound mind and declared so by a competent court
3. temporarily disqualified from voting under any law relating to corrupt practices and other election offence.

Electoral Registration Officer is the statutory authority for preparation & revision of electoral rolls and therefore he/she is solely responsible for every activity relating to the said process.

ERO is an officer of the Government or of a local authority designated and nominated by the Election Commission of India in consultation with the state government.

Service voter is a voter having service qualification. According to the provisions of sub – section (8) of Section 20 of Representation of People Act, 1950, service qualification means

1. Being a member of the armed Forces of the Union.
2. 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.
3. Being a member of an Armed Police Force of a State, and serving outside that state.
4. Being a person who is employed under the Government of India, in a post outside India.

Following Criteria required for contesting candidate:

1. A non citizen cannot be a contesting candidate in the elections. Article 84 (a) of the Constitution of India envisages that a person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill up a seat in the Parliament unless he is a citizen of India. Similar provision exists for State Legislative Assemblies in Article 173 (a) of the Constitution.
2. Article 84 (b) of Constitution of India provides that the minimum age for becoming a candidate for Lok Sabha election shall be 25 years. Similar provision exists for a candidate to the Legislative Assemblies vide Article 173 (b) of the Constitution read with Sec. 36 (2) of the R. P. Act, 1950.
3. For contesting an election as a candidate a person must be registered as a voter. Sec 4 (d) of Representation People Act, 1951 precludes a person from contesting unless he is an elector in any parliamentary constituency. Section 5 (c) of R. P. Act, 1951 has a similar provision for Assembly Constituencies.
4. As per Section 34 1 (a) of R. P. Act, 1951, every candidate is required to make a security deposit of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty five Thousand Only) for Lok Sabha elections.
5. As per Sec. 34 (1) (b) of the R. P. Act 1951, a general candidate for contesting an Assembly election will have to make a security deposit of Rs. 10,000/-. A candidate belonging to Scheduled Caste / Tribe will have to make a security deposit of Rs. 5,000/- (Five Thousand Only).

BLO is a local Government/Semi-Government official, familiar with the local electors and generally a voter in the same polling area who assists in updating the roll using his local knowledge.

In fact, BLO is a representative of Election Commission of India at the grass-root level who plays a pivotal role in the process of roll revision and collecting actual field information with regard to the roll corresponding to the polling area assigned to him.

Though BLO is not a full time electoral official, but the responsibility of BLO adds an additional dimension to his profile as he is rendering a responsible civic duty.

He is just like a friend, philosopher and guide of the local people in matters relating to the roll. Each BLO shall have one/two polling station area under his/her jurisdiction. Visit NVSP and click on Know your BLO. .

In order to enhance the participation by recognized Political Parties in revision/preparation of electoral roll, a provision for appointment of Booth Level Agent to complement Booth Level Officer during roll revision, has been made on the pattern of appointment of Polling Agents/Counting agents during election.

Normally, one Booth Level Agent is appointed for each part of electoral roll, though, one Booth Level Agent may be appointed for more than one part of electoral roll provided the polling stations for the corresponding parts of electoral roll are located within the same polling station location.

Booth Level Agent must be a registered elector in the relevant part of electoral roll for which he/she is appointed as it is expected that the Booth Level Agent will scrutinize the entries in the draft roll of the area where he resides to identify entries of dead/shifted persons.

No person in the service of Government/local authority/Public Sector Undertaking can act as Booth Level Agent.

Appointment of a person as Booth Level Agent will 2 be valid for the period until and unless the nomination/authorization of such Booth Level Agent is expressly withdrawn by the said Political Party or such Booth Level Agent has ceased to be a registered elector of the constituency where he/she has been appointed as Booth Level Agent.

Chief Electoral Officer of a State/ Union Territory is authorized to supervise the work relating to preparation of electoral roll and conduct of all elections to Parliament and the Legislature of the State subject to the overall superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission. Click here to know your Chief Electoral Officer

Visit www.nvsp.in and and click on Know your DEO

India is the largest democracy in the world.

The right to vote and more importantly the exercise of franchise by the eligible citizens is at the heart of every democracy.

We, the people, through this exercise of our right to vote have the ultimate power to shape the destiny of our country by electing our representatives who run the Government and take decisions for the growth, development and benefit of all the citizens.

A Voter ID Card, also known as the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is a photo identity card that is issued by the Election Commission of India to all individuals who are eligible to vote.

The primary purpose of this card is to improve the accuracy of the electoral roll and to help prevent cases of electoral fraud.

Additionally, it also serves as an identification proof when individual's cast their vote. This card is commonly known by other names such as an election card, voter card, Voter ID, etc.

M1 (model one) of EVM machines were manufactured till 2006 and had all necessary technical features making M1 non-hackable contrary to claims made by some activists.

On the recommendations of the Technical Evaluation Committee in 2006, M2 model of EVMs produced after 2006 and upto 2012 incorporated dynamic coding of key codes thereby enabling transfer of the key – press message from Ballot Unit (BUs) to Control Unit (CUs), in an encrypted form as an additional security feature.

It also contains Real time setting of each key press so that 2 sequencing of key presses including so called malicious sequenced key presses can be detected and wrapped.

Further, the ECI- EVMs are not computer controlled, are stand alone machines and not connected to the internet and /or any other network at any point of time. Hence, there is no chance of hacking by remote devices.

The ECI-EVMs do not have any frequency receiver or decoder for data for wireless or any external hardware port for connection to any other non-EVM accessory or device. Hence no tampering is possible either through hardware port or through Wireless, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth device because CU accepts only encrypted and dynamically coded data from BU. No other kind of data can be accepted by CU.

Bye Elections also known as bypolls are used to fill elected offices that have become vacant between General Elections.

In most cases these elections occur after the incumbent dies or resigns, but they also occur when the incumbent becomes ineligible to continue in office (because of a recall, ennoblement, criminal conviction, or failure to maintain a minimum attendance). Less commonly, these elections have been called when a constituency election is invalidated by voting irregularities.

One can fill the form online and get registered. Election commission of India deletes names from the register every few year after "register purification" drive and if their probe finds the person not to be living at the address mentioned in the registry they go ahead and delete those names. Now they even publish such deleted names on their "State CEOs" website for citizens to see and perhaps raise a request for inclusion again.

Click here for link to State CEO

When you enter the polling station, you will go to the First Polling Officer who is in-charge of the marked copy of the electoral roll and responsible for identification of electors. You should keep your identity card ready to show to the First Polling Officer which includes your EPIC or any other supporting photo identity proof issued by the government for verifying your identity.

Polling station changes are a result of variation in the number of voters within the polling area, consequent on the revision of electoral rolls.

Changes in the location of polling stations to new buildings or sites may become necessary, where the owner of the building or site originally proposed for a polling station has since become a contesting candidate or has strong sympathies for such candidate or political party, or because of any natural calamity that might have befallen on such building.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 Electoral Registration Officer / Assistant Electoral Registration Officer.

1. Fill form 6 along with all supporting documents.
2. If form is accepted, BLO delivers your voter card/ EPIC or call you to the office.

Elections for the Lok Sabha and every State Legislative Assembly have to take place every five years, unless called earlier. The President can dissolve Lok Sabha and call a general election before five years is up, if the government can no longer command the confidence of the Lok Sabha, and if there is no alternative government available to take over.

Governments have found it increasingly difficult to stay in power for the full term of a Lok Sabha in recent times, and so elections have often been held before the five-year limit has been reached. A constitutional amendment passed in 1975, as part of the government declared emergency, postponed the election due to be held in 1976. This amendment was later rescinded, and regular elections resumed in 1977.

Holding of regular elections can only be stopped by means of a constitutional amendment and in consultation with the Election Commission, and it is recognised that interruptions of regular elections are acceptable only in extraordinary circumstances.

When the five-year limit is up, or the legislature has been dissolved and new elections have been called, the Election Commission puts into effect the machinery for holding an election. The constitution states that there can be no longer than 6 months between the last session of the dissolved Assembly and the recalling of the new House, so elections have to be concluded before then.

: The Commission normally announces the schedule of elections in a major Press Conference a few weeks before the formal process is set in motion. The Model Code of Conduct for guidance of candidates and Political Parties immediately comes into effect after such announcement. The formal process for the elections starts with the Notification or Notifications calling upon the electorate to elect Members of a House.

The formal process for the elections starts with the Notification or Notifications calling upon the electorate to elect Members of a House. As soon as Notifications are issued, Candidates can start filing their nominations in the constituencies from where they wish to contest. These are scrutinised by the Returning Officer of the constituency concerned after the last date for the same is over after about a week. The validly nominated candidates can withdraw from the contest within two days from the date of scrutiny. Contesting candidates get at least two weeks for political campaign before the actual date of poll. On account of the vast magnitude of operations and the massive size of the electorate, polling is held at least on three days for the national elections.

While making the announcement of the schedule of elections, a separate date for counting is fixed and the results declared for each constituency by the concerned Returning Officer.

When the five-year limit is up, or the legislature has been dissolved and new elections have been called, the Election Commission puts into effect the machinery for holding an election. The constitution states that there can be no longer than 6 months between the last session of the dissolved Lok Sabha and the recalling of the new House, so elections have to be concluded before then.

Election Commission of India (ECI), constitutionally mandated body that was established in 1950 to foster the democratic process in India.

Headquarter is in New Delhi.

Office Address: Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi, 110001

National Voters Service Portal (NVSP) and fill Form 6 for registration. Click here

Visit National Voters Service Portal (NVSP) and click on Know your polling booth

Visit National Voters Service Portal (NVSP) and click on Know your AC

Visit https://eci.nic.in/ and click on link to candidates affidavit.

Visit National Grievance Service & register your complaint under citizen. Click here to register

We have come up with a new feature to upload your selfie after voting. You just have to click your selfie and post it in our "SELFIE" section on ECI SVEEP Portal

Visit ECI Website https://eci.nic.in/ and check "General Election Results & Statics" under Result section.

Also, you may see the results of ongoing election by clicking the link below:
http://eciresults.nic.in/