A voter ID card allows you to cast your vote for your preferred candidate and elect him or her to govern the country. It is also a necessary identity proof.

So, if you are a resident of West Bengal and do not hold a voter ID card, apply for the same online or offline. Moreover, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer added over 20 lakh of new voters to West Bengal's electoral list. New electors can search for voter ID cards in West Bengal to check their names in the electoral list.

Continue reading to find out the essential details about eligibility, the application process, searching your name in the voter's list etc.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for voter ID in West Bengal -

• Citizenship – Indian
• Age limit – 18 years or above (applicants must attain 18 years on the 1st January of the given year).

Moreover, applicants must have permanent residentship. Further, financially bankrupt or citizens falling under a special category are not eligible to apply.

Follow the simple steps to apply for a voter ID card in West Bengal online -

• Step 1: Visit the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal. Select "Online Enrolment" and choose "Apply to Enrol (Form 6)".
• Step 2: A page redirects to Voter Portal. Register by your mobile number or username. Or else login with your existing credentials. Once you log in, select "New Voter Registration".
• Step 3: Enter the relevant information, such as whether you are applying for a voter ID for the first time. Then, select citizenship, enter your date of birth, residential details etc. Upload the relevant documents such as driving licence, Aadhaar card etc.
  • Note: Applicants of 21 years and above must submit a declaration form during online registration for voter ID in West Bengal.
• Step 4: After entering all the details, review the form and click "Submit". Your form will be submitted to the Electoral Registration Officer. An Officer at Booth Level will visit your residence to verify the details. Once verified, you will receive your new voter ID card to your registered address through the postal service.

Applicants without internet access can apply offline for a voter ID card in West Bengal by visiting their nearest electoral office. Fill in the Form 6. You can also download this form online from West Bengal's CEO website.

• Step 1: Visit the website of the CEO, West Bengal and choose "Downloads". Select "Forms" to download this form in either English or Bengali.
• Step 2: Submit it with the supporting KYC documents such as the Aadhaar card, PAN card etc. An Officer at Booth Level will visit your residence post submission of your application form to verify all details.
  
  

Once verified and approved, you will receive your voter ID card to your registered address through post.

You can follow the steps below for partial-online application for your Voter ID card:

Step 1: Visit the official website of NVSP and download Form 6.

Step 2: Take a printout and fill it with accurate details.

Step 3: Submit the form along with some necessary documents to the nearest post office.

You can follow the steps below for partial-online application for your Voter ID card

Step 1: Visit the official website of NVSP and download Form 6.

Step 2: Take a printout and fill it with accurate details.

Step 3: Submit the form along with some necessary documents to the nearest post office.

Submit the following documents while applying for a voter ID card in West Bengal -

Residential Proof

• Ration card
• Aadhaar card
• Any utility bill such as electricity, gas, or water bill
• Your bank passbook
• A photocopy of your passport

Identity Proof

• Driving licence
• Your student ID card (if any)

Note - Additionally, documents such as the Aadhaar card, PAN card, Ration card, your bank passbook etc., as mentioned above, are also accepted documents for identity proof.

Age Proof

• Your birth certificate
• Class 10th standard certificate
• Kisan card
• Birth certificate (issued by the district office of the Registrar of Births and Deaths or Municipal Authorities)
• Baptism certificate
• Birth certificate issued from recognised or government school.

Documents such as the Aadhaar card, PAN card, your passport are also accepted as documents for age proof. Also, submit your recent coloured passport size photographs.

You can now download voter ID online in West Bengal in the form of e-EPIC. E-EPIC is a PDF format of your voter ID card. You can download and store it on your smartphone or computer. Further, upload it in the Digi locker, print or laminate it according to your requirement.

You can download it through Voter Helpline Mobile Application. Or else visit either NVSP or Voter Portal. However, you can also download it via accessing the website of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal. To do that, follow the step-wise guide to download your new voter ID card in West Bengal -

• Step 1: Visit the website of the Chief Electoral Officer. Select "Download e-EPIC". Choose "Download e-EPIC Card". You will be redirected to the NVSP website.
• Step 2: Register/login to the portal. Type your EPIC or form reference number. Authenticate your details with the OTP sent to your registered contact number. Finally, download the e-EPIC.
• Step 3: If your contact number is not registered in ERoll, select "e-KYC"
• Step 4: Pass the live face verification. Now update your contact number to complete the process and download the voter ID card.

Check whether your application for a voter ID card is approved or dispatched by following the few simple steps:

• Step 1: Visit your state’s Chief Electoral Officer portal. Select "Online Enrollment" and choose "Track Online Application".
• Step 2: A page redirects to Voter Portal. Register/ login with your registered number, voter ID number or username and password.
• Step 3: Select "Track Status" and choose "Application". Type the reference number and click "Track Your Status".

Moreover, if you are browsing the internet to search for voter ID cards in West Bengal, follow the steps mentioned below -

• Visit the official website of NVSP. Select "Search in Electoral Roll".
• You can search your name by the two following methods -

Search by Details

Enter your name, date of birth, gender, assembly constituency. Gender, state, district etc. Type the captcha and click "Search"

Search by EPIC No.

Type the EPIC number, select state and enter the verification code to search for your name in the voter list.

Also, you can know about other electoral details such as your assembly constituency, polling booth etc., via SMS. Follow the two processes mentioned below:

• Send WB EC <voter ID card number> to 51969
• Type your <voter ID card number> and send it to 9433633333

Note the following guidelines mentioned below while applying for a voter ID card in West Bengal -

• Illiterate or semi-illiterate applicants, who do not own any documents such as birth certificates, baptism certificates etc., must submit a declaration according to a specified format. Either of the applicant's parents enrolled in the voter list must submit this declaration.
• Applicants born on or after 26.01.1989, birth certificates issued by the district office of the Registrar of Births and Deaths or Municipal Authorities are accepted as documents for age proof.
• If you submit a ration card as your residential proof, submit other documents such as passport, driving licence etc., along with it.
• You can only mention the name of your parents, spouse, brother or sister enrolled in the voter list. The name of your other relatives, such as cousins, uncles etc., is not accepted.
• If you have already received a Photo Identity Card, provide the date of issuance and your card number while selecting the declaration in the form. Also, submit a self-attested copy of both sides of your voter ID card.
• Review all the details mentioned in your form to avoid any errors and inconvenience later.

Thus, keep these pointers in mind while applying for a voter ID card in West Bengal to ensure a smooth application process. Also, registered voters can follow the steps mentioned above to search for voter ID cards in West Bengal and check their names in the voter list online without any hassles.