25th January is celebrated as National Voters’ Day in India.
National Voter’s Day aims at increasing the enrolment of voters, especially encourage participation of newly eligible young voter (18-19 yr old) and ensure universal adult franchise.
This year marks the 7th NVD with theme “Empowering Young & Future Voters” .
25th January, the Foundation Day of Election Commission of India (ECI), was declared as the National Voters’ Day in the year 2011.
Since then, National Voters Day has been celebrated all over India with gusto and has become more festive with each passing year.
This year marks the seventh celebration of NVD and Election Commission of India started the NVD celebration with ‘Matdata Mahotsav’ (Grand Celebrations of the voter).
A citizen can be enrolled as voter when he or she is 18 years as on January 1 of the year electoral rolls are prepared. The electoral rolls are revised once in five years as well as prior to an election. The Commission periodically does house-to-house enumeration. But the onus is on you to register as a voter.
The Election Commission registers a person as a voter in the constituency where he or she ordinarily resides. When you change your residence, the EC has to be intimated. Enrolling as a voter in more than one location is an offence.
The Election Commission provides every voter a photo identification card called Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC). Along with your photo and address, the EPIC contains your electoral roll number, which enables the polling official to easily identify you. However, it is not mandatory to carry your Voter ID when you cast your vote. Other valid photo identifications, such as passport, driving license, PAN etc. are adequate to exercise your franchise.
A person can vote only if his/her name is found in the electoral rolls. If, for any reason, a name is removed from the electoral roll, the polling official will not allow the person to vote.
Who cannot vote?
When an Indian becomes a citizen of another country, he/she automatically loses the right to vote.
A person declared as ‘mentally unsound’ by a court does not have voting rights.
In case a person is found to be involved in corrupt electoral practices, his/her name can be removed from electoral roll.
A Presiding Officer can stop you from voting if it is found that you are impersonating another person. This is a punishable offence.