Govt Allows 17-Year Old Indian Citizens To Apply For Voter ID In Advance: Find Out How Will It Work?

The Election Commission has announced that citizens above 17 years of age can apply in advance for a voter ID card.

Four chances per year

Now youngsters won’t have to wait for the prerequisite criterion of turning 18 on 1 January to get enrolled in the voters’ list.

The youngsters will get four chances every year to enroll in the voters’ list.

Four important dates

The EC also directed states to facilitate citizens above the age of 17 to “file their advance applications with reference to three subsequent qualifying dates – April 01, July 01 and October 01.”

This means that if a person is 18 years of age on any of the four dates (January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1), they can register to vote.

Rules for next year

Post registration the applicant will be issued an Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC).

For the current round of annual revision of the electoral roll, 2023, any citizen turning 18 by April 1, July 1 and October 1 of 2023 can also submit an advance application for voter registration  from the date of draft publication of the electoral roll.