Voter
Help
All of us know that voting procedures can get a little complicated at times. So, I've answered any question you may have and also sorted them by topic! This is as simple as it gets.
What makes me eligible to vote?
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You are eligible to vote when:-
you are an Indian citizen.
you are an Ordinary Resident at your current location, i.e. you have been living at your current address for 6 months or longer.
you are 18 years or older as on January 1 of the year when the electoral rolls are getting prepared.
When can I become eligible to register for voting, if I have moved to a new city?
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You are eligible to register once you become an Ordinary Resident of the city, i.e. when you have been living at the new address for 6 months or longer.
If a student is studying outside his native place of permanent residence, is he eligible to register from his college to vote?
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Yes. As a student, he can register from his college even if he is studying outside his native city / place of permanent residence.
If a person is residing in a hostel / mess and does not have an ordinary address proof document, he/she has to get a Student Declaration Form signed by his college dean/principal/registrar and submit it along with his Voter Registration form.
However, a person cannot register from two or more addresses simultaneously. It is always advisable though that students register from their college, since they will spend most of the time in the year at this place.
If a person is residing in a hostel / mess and does not have an ordinary address proof document, he/she has to get a Student Declaration Form signed by his college dean/principal/registrar and submit it along with his Voter Registration form.
However, a person cannot register from two or more addresses simultaneously. It is always advisable though that students register from their college, since they will spend most of the time in the year at this place.
Can a person who has just turned 18 years register to vote?
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A person can register to vote, if he is 18 years or older as on January 1 of the year when the electoral rolls are getting prepared.
If the person is going to complete 18 years of age after January 1, 2009, he/she is not eligible to register for voting for the upcoming general elections 2009.
If the person is going to complete 18 years of age after January 1, 2009, he/she is not eligible to register for voting for the upcoming general elections 2009.
Can an Indian citizen vote anywhere in India?
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Yes, if the person meets the eligibility criteria, he/ she can register to vote from anywhere in India. However, the person cannot register to vote from two or more places simultaneously.
Is a non-resident Indian (NRI) eligible to vote in India?
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There is no provision for NRI citizens to vote. Only a person who is residing in India and is an ordinary resident at a place within the country is eligible to vote.
However, non-resident Indian citizens who are Government of India employees, in a post outside India are eligible to be registered as voters, as per the Representation of People's Act 1950.
However, non-resident Indian citizens who are Government of India employees, in a post outside India are eligible to be registered as voters, as per the Representation of People's Act 1950.
Who is not eligible to vote?
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All those who do not meet the eligibility criteria cannot vote.
However, If a person is convicted under Sections 171 E or 171 F of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or Sections 125, 135 or 136(a) (2) of the Representations of People's Act 1950, he/she shall be disqualified from voting for 6 years.
Section 171 E of IPC: Offence of bribery
Section 171 F of IPC: Offence of undue influence or impersonation at an election
Section 125 of RPA: Offence of promoting enmity between classes in connection with the election
Section 135 of RPA: Offence of removing ballot papers from polling station
Section 135 A of RPA: Offence of booth capturing
However, If a person is convicted under Sections 171 E or 171 F of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or Sections 125, 135 or 136(a) (2) of the Representations of People's Act 1950, he/she shall be disqualified from voting for 6 years.
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