Voter ID in Tamil Nadu

Voting in elections is an essential and integral part of a democratic country. Widespread participation of citizens in polling is the cornerstone of democracy. In a democratic country, voting is a privilege and a duty. People in a democracy communicate their opinions and concerns through voting.

India is one of the most significant democratic countries in the world and a considerable number of people participate in local, state and national level elections every year. The Voter ID is a government-assigned proof which enables the eligible electors to cast their votes through the Electronic Voting Machine or EVM. Voter ID in India not only serves as a means that will permit you to cast a vote but it also acts as a valid identity and address proof.

With 234 assembly constituencies and over 39 Lok Sabha constituencies, Tamil Nadu is one of the crucial states in democratic India when it comes to elections. Applying for a Voter ID and obtaining one has become hassle-free and less time-consuming after the CEO of Tamilnadu introduced the online services.

How can you register for Color Voter ID in Tamil Nadu?

Below listed are the steps that can be followed to get a Color Voter ID:

• Visit the official website of Tamilnadu.

• Click on the link particularized for the registration of new Voter ID.

• Enter the necessary details along with your contact number.

• Upload your passport-size photograph. Please ensure that the photograph is of good resolution.

• Submit the application.

• A code will be sent to the contact number/mobile number that you have mentioned.

• Enter the code.

• An identity code will be sent to you for your respective voter ID card.

• You will be receiving updates through SMS.

• The voter card will be sent to the residential address via post within 45-60 days.

Apply for Voter ID Card Online in Tamil Nadu

With the application process of all national identity cards being digitized, it is much more convenient to apply for voter ID card online in Tamil Nadu

You can follow these steps to apply online:

• Visit the website the official website of Tamil Nadu Election Commission.

• Click on the option E-registration.

• Under E-registration, there are two options, namely - Assembly Constituency and Council Constituency.

• Select Form 6 from Assembly Constituency.

• Open Form 6 and fill out the form accurately.

• After all the details are entered click on submit and it will be sent to the Tamil Nadu Election Commission.

• An application number is generated that can be used by the applicant to trace their voter ID application.

• Then a Booth Level Officer will tour your place to check whether every detail that you have furnished is correct or not.

• In case you need any help concerning this or have a doubt, you can dial the toll-free number 1950.

How Can You Apply for Voter ID Card Offline in Tamil Nadu?

Even if the nation has gotten digitized, not everyone has access or even basic skills to complete the application process online. And even if they have the skills, some people prefer the slow method of applying in person. These people can still apply for a voter ID card offline in the state by contacting their nearest electoral office.

You can follow the process described below to apply for voter ID offline in Tamil Nadu:

• Obtain the application form and other listed forms from your nearby electoral office. Form 6 (Application for insertion of name in electoral roll), Form 7 (application form for deletion of an eligible voter's name from the electoral roll), Form 8 (application form for correction of the details in voter ID card) and Form 8A (used to apply for transposition of an eligible voter’s name in the electoral roll) are the election ID card related forms. As a new applicant, you must fill up Form 6. You must also submit necessary KYC documents such as your identity proof, your age proof and residence proof. You can submit copies of your passport, driving license, Aadhar card, SSLC Book, Ration Card, rental/ lease agreement, latest utility bill or LIC Policy paper among others accordingly.

• Please remember to submit information of your family members who already own Voter ID cards. This can definitely help in rushing the procedure.

• Go to the nearest Electoral Registration Office to supply the documents. Upon verification, the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) assigned by the ERO will visit your residential address to check whether all the information provided by you is correct. To give a voter ID for all listed electors, regular trips are made by the Election Commission of India (ECI) at Designated Photographic Locations (DPIs). Such drives are highly in media from time to time.

Process of Correcting Voter ID Card Offline in Tamil Nadu

As said before, online correction may not be convenient for many people for reasons such as lack of awareness, access or knowledge. But the process of updating the address offline in Tamil Nadu is easy as well. You can visit your nearest electoral office and secure Form 8 from the counter. Fill it up correctly and submit it. You'll be required to submit the documents that justify the corrections that you wish to make in your voter ID card. For instance, if you have married recently and wish to drop your maiden name, the commission might ask you to submit a copy of your marriage certificate or an affidavit. After submission, the standard verification process will ensue. An officer from the Electoral Commission of India will be visiting your place of residence for verification of the documents provided by you, and then you can collect your new voter ID card.

Process of Updating the Address Online in Voter ID in Tamil Nadu

There are various reasons why someone might wish to change the address in their voter ID Card. Your address might have been misspelled, or you might have moved to a different location within the state. To ensure that the address is updated, you must submit Form 8 to the Electoral Office. The process is not as complicated as before primarily due to the online services provided by the Election Commission.

If you have married and moved to a different location, you might wish to change the address listed on your voter ID. To complete the procedure of changing the address, you'll be required to provide your marriage certificate as proof along with the address proof. Students are requested to submit a declaration signed by the head of the institution/school so that their address can be updated to the hostel address/rental house address. If the company or government office that you work for transfer you to a different place, and you wish to update the new address on your voter ID card, you will be required to give a declaration signed by the senior-most official in your department in terms of position. The approval for such applications doesn't take long if the documents provided are valid.

You can follow these simple steps described below to change your address:

• Log in to the Chief Electoral Officer's website of Tamil Nadu using your credentials.

• Click on 'Electoral Services'.

• Select 'Change of Address'.

• A form will be displayed on the screen.

• Enter your EPIC Number.

• If you don't remember your EPIC Number, then you can click Don't Know EPIC and provide the details like your district and constituency and your EPIC will be traced by the system.

• Enter the old and current address on the form and click on 'Agree to the Declaration.'

• After self-verification of the application, click on Submit.

• After the ECI verifies your documents, you'll be receiving your updated voter ID card.

The Process of Updating the Address Offline in Voter ID in Tamil Nadu

You can also update your address offline. The offline method for updating address on your voter ID includes obtaining the form from the nearest electoral office, filling it up and submitting it.

The procedure for submitting the form for change in address of voter ID in Tamil Nadu is described below:

• Fill up Form 8A correctly and sign on it. It is explicitly designed for change in address.

• Submit the application form along with a copy of all the necessary documents in the nearest Electoral Office.

• The Election Commission verifies your details and a new voter ID card is issued to you in a few days.

Procedure to Apply for Duplicate Voter ID Card Online in Tamil Nadu

There are situations when the voter ID card is misplaced or lost. In such situations, there is an urgent need for generating a duplicate voter ID card. The state election commission of Tamil Nadu makes a provision for issuing a duplicate voter ID card.

Procedure for applying for a duplicate voter ID card has been explained below:

• Visit the Election Commission of India website.

• Download form EPIC-002.

• If the voter ID card has been lost or stolen, then you will be required to submit the FIR along with the application form.

• If the individuals have torn or unusable voter ID card, they can submit the card along with the application form to the nearest Electoral Office.

• After the application has been verified, you will be receiving the duplicate voter ID card on your address through post or you may collect the voter ID from the electoral office.

Apply for Duplicate Voter ID Card in Tamil Nadu Offline

Voter ID card is the most important document. It not only allows people to vote in local, state and national elections but also serves as a proof of identity and address.

You can apply for another voter ID card through offline mode if your card has been stolen or lost by following this simple procedure:

• Visit the nearest electoral office and collect a copy of Form EPIC-002.

• Fill up the form and submit it to the nearest electoral office with all the relevant documents. If you have misplaced or lost your voter ID card, then you also need to submit a copy of the FIR as well.

• If your card is torn, then you must send the card along with the application form.

• The electoral office verifies the details and a new voter ID card is issued.

Election Commission of Tamil Nadu

The Election Commission of Tamil Nadu is supervised by the Chief Election Commissioner, Satyabrata Sahoo. The Election Commission is responsible for administering fair elections in the state and it also issues voter ID cards to the eligible electors and draws up electoral lists for the various constituencies, among other duties.

Things You Need to Know before Voting in Tamil Nadu

• The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election was conducted on 16th May 2016 for the 232 seats of the Legislative Assembly (except Thanjavur and Aravakurichi).

• Voting for all the 234 state assembly constituencies took place on the 16th of May 2016, and the votes were counted on the 19th of May, 2016.

• Supervised by Mr. Thiru. Rajesh Lakhoni, the then Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu, the elections were conducted in compliance to the electoral code of conduct. The EC is also responsible for issuing the voter ID cards to eligible voters and publishing the electoral roll/voter list.

• If voters wish to check if their names appear on the electoral roll, they can visit the official CEO website of the state and download the electoral roll in PDF format. It is advisable for all the electors to check their names on the electoral roll before the commencement of the elections so that they can correct/modify their details if required.

• The electors can find the address of the polling stations of their respective constituencies on the Elections Services tab of the website.

• It is mandatory for the electors to carry their voter ID card along with them to cast their votes.

• For voters whose name is present on the electoral roll but do not own the EPIC card, can show their photo voter slip.

• For voters who do not have their voter ID Card, the Election Commission also accepts the photo voter slip or any of the following documents:

  • Driver's License

  • Passport

  • PAN Card

  • Service Identity Card

  • MGNREGA card

  • Passbook

  • Pension document which has your photograph

  • Official identity card issued by MP/MLA/MLC

  • Health insurance card issued by the Ministry of Public Health