Voter ID (India)
Indian identity document
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Through Nepal, Electoral district and Electoral roll
EPIC can be utilized as a valid travel document to travel to Nepal and Bhutan. It is also known as Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC).
It was first introduced in 1993 during the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner T. N. Seshan.
Physical appearance
Initially, voter IDs were printed with black ink on regular paper and laminated. Starting in 2015, the Indian government started rolling out a less perishable PVC colour version, compliant with the ISO/IEC 7810 size standard used by most payment and ATM cards.
On the front, the Elector Photo Identity Card contains the voter's name, the name of a relative they have chosen (such as their father or mother), and the voter's picture, along with the voter's ID number. On the back of the card, the voter's home address is printed, along with an image of their Electoral Registration Officer's signature. The back also mentions the voter's electoral district and their assembly constituency. The newer series also contains a 'part number', which lets voters and election officials locate voters on their electoral roll.
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Obtaining voter card
In India, a voter ID card is issued to citizens who are 18 years of age or older and meet the eligibility criteria to vote. To obtain the card, applicants must submit Form-6, prescribed by the Election Commission of India, along with valid proof of identity, Indian citizenship, age, and residence. Individuals declared to be of “unsound mind,” those convicted of corrupt practices, or those found guilty of certain election-related offenses are disqualified from voting.
Applications can be submitted in person by providing the completed Form-6 to the designated Booth Level Officer (BLO) of the applicant's area. Alternatively, eligible citizens may apply online through the website of their respective State's Chief Electoral Officer or via the Voters' Service Portal.
To improve efficiency, the Election Commission has introduced a fast-track system aimed at delivering voter ID cards within 15 days of application.
However, there have been instances where fake voter ID cards were misused by individuals for fraudulent purposes, such as obtaining SIM cards through impersonation.