Why is it Important to get Your Name Included in the Electoral Rolls?

For every constituency, there is a list of voters that is called the Electoral Roll. To be able to exercise your vote, your name must be in the Electoral Roll of the area of your residence. According to Article 326 of the Constitution and Sec. 19 of the R. P. Act, 1950, the minimum age for the registration of a voter in India is 18 years, as on the first day of January of the year in which the Electoral Roll is prepared or revised.

What You Need to Do

Anyone who is a citizen of India and is at least 18 years of age is eligible to vote. People who are not citizens of India are not eligible to vote. Non-resident Indian Citizens who are employed under the Govt. of India in a post outside India are eligible to be registered as voters as per the terms of Sec 20 (8) (d), read with Sec 20 (3) of the R. P. Act, 1950.

You can get your name included in the voters’ list either during a door-to-door campaign by the authorised Govt. functionaries, conducted once in every 10 years, or during annual revision, the date of which is published by the Election Department. You need to apply in the prescribed form, which is available either online or with the ERO (Election Registration Officer)/Designated Officer, and present yourself on the date of hearing. If everything is found to be in order, your name will be included in the Electoral Roll of the constituency in which you reside.

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