Voter ID Card 2026 - How to Apply, Documents Required, Track Status & Verification

A Voter ID card is an official photo identity document issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to eligible citizens for voting. Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is issued by the Election Commission of India under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Citizens can verify their voter registration, track Voter ID card status, and download their EPIC online through the Voters’ Services Portal. 

Key Highlights

• Application modes: Online on the NVSP or offline at an Electoral Registration Office
• Digital version: e-EPIC (digital Voter ID) can be downloaded and stored in DigiLocker
• NRI eligibility: NRIs can register using Form 6A, but remote voting is not available
• Delivery timeline: Within 15 days of approval

Voter ID Card Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a Voter ID card, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• An Indian citizen
• Must be aged 18 years or above
• Must have a permanent address in India
• Must not be disqualified under any law

Documents Required For Voter ID Card

Applicants must submit the following documents:

I. Proof of Date of Birth (any one)

• Birth certificate issued by Competent Local Body/Municipal Authority/Registrar of Births & Deaths
• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Driving Licence
• Certificate of Class X or Class XII issued by CBSE/ICSE/State Education Board (if it contains Date of Birth)
• Indian Passport

If none of the above documents are available, any other valid proof of date of birth may be specified and submitted.

II. Proof of Residence (any one)

The address proof may be in the name of the applicant or in the name of parent/spouse/adult child already enrolled at the same address.

• Water/Electricity/Gas connection bill for that address (at least 1 year old
• Aadhaar Card
• Current passbook of Nationalized/Scheduled Bank/Post Office
• Indian Passport
• Revenue Department’s land owning records including KisanBahi
• Registered Rent Lease Deed (in case of tenant)
• Registered Sale Deed (in case of own house)

If none of the above documents are available, any other valid proof of residence may be specified and submitted.

III. Photograph

Recent passport-sized photograph.

How to Apply for a Voter ID Card?

A citizen of India can apply for a voter ID online or offline.

I. How to Apply for Voter ID Card Online?

Step 1: Visit the Sign-Up page of the NVSP. 

Step 2: Select the ‘Indian Resident Elector’ option.

Step 3: Enter your mobile number, email ID and captcha code and click ‘Continue’.

Step 4: Enter your ‘First Name’, ‘Last Name’, ‘Password’, ‘Confirm Password’, and click the ‘Request OTP’ button.

Step 5: Enter the OTP sent to your mobile number and email ID and click ‘Verify’.

Step 6: Log in to the Voters' Services portal by clicking the ‘Login’ button, entering your mobile number, password, and captcha and clicking the ‘Request OTP’ button.

Step 7:  Enter the OTP sent to your mobile number and click the ‘Verify & Login’ button.

Step 8: Click the ‘Fill Form 6’ button under the ‘New Voter Registration’ section.

Step 9: Enter all the details on Form 6, which includes personal details, relatives details, contact details, Aadhaar details, date of birth, address, and declaration. Upload the required documents in the given sections and click the ‘Preview and Submit’ button.

Step 10: Check if the entered details are correct and click ‘Submit’.

II. How to Apply for Voter ID Card Offline?

Step 1: Visit the nearest State Election Office and request Form 6. Alternatively, you may download the Form 6 PDF from the ‘New Voter Registration’ section on NVSP.

Step 2: Fill in the Form 6 with the required details.

Step 3: Submit the completed Form 6 along with a photo and supporting documents at the Election Office.

How to Track Status of Voter ID?

The Voter ID card status can be tracked in the following ways:

I. Online

Step 1: Visit the ‘Track Application Status’ page of the NVSP.

Step 2: Enter the reference number, select your state and click the ‘Submit’ button.

The voter registration status will be displayed on the screen.

Note: The reference ID is a unique number provided in the acknowledgement slip you receive at the time of submission of your voter registration application. 

II. Offline

You can also check Voter ID status by visiting the State Election Office and providing your name, date of birth, and address details. The officials will check and provide you with the voter registration status.

Note: Applicants can now receive their Voter ID within 15 days after approval with the Election Commission of India’s fast-track delivery system.

Structure of Voter ID

A voter ID card is an accepted form of personal identification in India as it is issued by a government body. The voter ID consists of the following details:

• A unique Serial number (EPIC Number)
• Photograph of the cardholder
• A hologram containing the respective state/national symbol
• Name of cardholder
• Father’s Name of cardholder
• Gender of cardholder
• Card holder’s Date of Birth

The card holder’s residential address and signature of the issuing authority (Electoral registration officer) are on the rear side of the voter ID card.

How to Verify Voter ID?

Applicants can verify their Voter ID if they suspect their ID to be a counterfeit by using their Voter ID number. They can do so by checking if their names are present in the electoral roll. 

Step 1: Visit National Voters' Services Portal.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Search in Electoral Roll’ tab.

Step 3: Select any one of the options - ‘Search by Details’, ‘Search by EPIC’ or ‘Search by Mobile’.

Step 4: Enter the required information and click ‘Search’.

Step 5: Your details will be displayed on the screen. You can further check if your details are correct by clicking on ‘View Details’ under the ‘Action’ column.

If there are any discrepancies, the applicant must bring it to the notice of the Chief Electoral Officer.

Voter ID Correction in Electoral roll

Cardholders who need to correct or update their details in the Voter ID card can do so in the following ways:

• Offline method: Visit the nearest Election Office and submit Form 8 along with supporting documents.
• Online method: Log in to the Voters’ Services Portal and fill Form 8 with the updated details.

After you submit Form 8 along with relevant supporting documents to the State Election Office or online on the portal, the booth level officers will process your application and make the necessary changes to your voter ID.

How to Download Voter ID Card Online?

The steps to download the digital Voter ID or e-EPIC card are as follows:

Step 1: Click on the ‘E-EPIC Download’ tab in the NVSP after logging in. 

Step 2: Select the ‘EPIC No’ or ‘Form Reference no.’ option.

Step 3: Enter EPIC number or Form Reference Number, select state and click ‘Search’. 

• The EPIC number is the Voter ID number.
• The reference number is available in the acknowledgement received after submitting Form 6.

Step 4: The Voter ID details will be displayed on the screen. Click the ‘Send OTP’ button. Please note that if your mobile number is not updated, the ‘Send OTP’ button will not be available. 

Step 5: Enter OTP and click on ‘Verify’.

Step 6: Click the ‘Download e-EPIC’ button to download the Voter ID card.

Uses of Voter ID

The Voter ID card is used to furnish important details, such as:

• The Voter ID card serves as proof of identity and address.
• A Voter ID card is an acknowledgement that the cardholder is a registered voter.
• The Voter ID card can be utilised to avail certain government schemes.

Steps to Take When You Don't Receive Voter ID

If the Voter ID card is not delivered within the expected timeframe, the following actions can be taken:

• Check the application status on the NVSP portal using your reference number.
• Verify that your application has been approved and dispatched.
• Confirm that the address provided in the application is correct.Visit the nearest Electoral Registration Office for assistance if the status shows no updates.
• Raise a complaint or query through the NVSP portal if required.

In many cases, the e-EPIC can be downloaded online and used as a valid alternative until the physical card is delivered.

NRI Voter ID 

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can apply for a Voter ID card using Form 6A. However, NRIs must be physically present in their constituency to vote, as remote voting is not currently available. 

Final Word

A Voter ID card (EPIC) is an essential document for every Indian citizen, serving as proof of identity and enabling participation in democratic elections. Citizens can track Voter ID status, download the digital e-EPIC, and update details through Form 8 on the Voters’ Services Portal. 

Voter ID Related Articles:
1. How to Apply and Get Duplicate Voter ID Card?
2. How To Change Name In Voter ID Card?

Also Read:
1. How to Apply for Voter ID Card in Assam?
2. How to Apply for Voter ID Card in Kerala?
3. How to Apply for Voter ID Card in Tamil Nadu?
4. How to Apply for Voter ID Card in West Bengal?
5. How to Apply for Voter ID Card in Puducherry?