The Indian Voter ID Card (officially the Elector's Photo Identity Card (EPIC)) is an identity document issued by the Election Commission of India to adults domiciles of India who have reached the age of 18. It primarily serves as an identity proof for Indian citizens while casting their ballot in the country's municipal, state, and national elections.[1] It also serves as general identity, address, and age proof for other purposes such as buying a mobile phone SIM card or applying for a passport.[2][3] It also serves as a Travel Document to travel to Nepal and Bhutan by Land or Air[4] 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.[5]
| Voter ID card (EPIC) | |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Election Commission of India |
| First issued | 1993 |
| Purpose | Casting vote,Identification |
| Valid in | India |
| Eligibility | should be 18 years old |
| Expiration | Lifetime validity |
| Website | www |
Physical appearance
Initially, voter IDs were printed with black ink on regular paper and laminated. Starting in 2015,[6] the Indian government started rolling out a less perishable PVC colour version, compliant with the ISO/IEC 7810 size standard[7] 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.[8]
Obtaining voter card
The voter card is issued to all Indian citizens who have attained the age of 18 years and qualify to be a voter. One has to apply on prescribed Form-6 of Election Commission attached with proof of ID, Indian nationality, age and residence.[9][10]
Those of "unsound mind", convicted of "corrupt practices", or offenses related to elections are ineligible to vote.[11]
Applicants have to submit paper Form-6 to their Booth Level officer (BLO) of the area.[12]
Applicants can also apply online on the website of the chief electoral officer given for that State[13][14] or can directly apply to the website named Voters' Service Portal.[15]
Fake voter ID cards have occasionally been used fraudulently for other purposes by dubious parties and individuals to suit their personal needs (such as obtaining a SIM card through impersonation).[16][17][18]