The socio-cultural importance of the state makes Odisha an epicentre of the country’s political discourse. Therefore, every individual aged 18 or above here must avail of an voter ID in Odisha. With a comparatively straightforward mechanism, you can now apply for and download the card with ease.

The voter ID card is crucial in order to maintain the sanctity of state and general elections. As a photo identification proof, this document can severely minimise the scope of fraudulent voting. Additionally, you can use this card as a proof of your identity and residence when dealing with legal matters.

As these cards do not have a date of cessation, they hold a permanent validity. However, if the details featured in the card have changed, you will need to notify the concerned authority so that those can be updated accordingly.

Some of these pieces of information available on the card include:

• Assigned serial number
• One hologram sticker
• Your name and gende
• An image of you
• Your age
• Address of your place of residence
• Name of your spouse or parent, as applicable
• A digitised copy of your signature

 You can apply for a voter ID in Odisha if you meet the following parameters:

• You are a citizen of India. If you are a non-residential Indian voter, you cannot possess the citizenship of another country alongside your native one to take part in electoral activities.
• You are of the legal age of eighteen years or older than that.
• There should be a permanent address for you.

Please note that an individual will not be eligible to apply for a voter ID in Odisha card if one:

• Is a part of specified special categories
• Is bankrupt

When you are applying for a voter card in Odisha, you will need to provide substantial proof of your age, address, and identity. Therefore, you will need to produce certain documents from the records as mentioned below:

• Your image in passport size
• Utility bills for gas or water etc.
• Aadhaar Card
• Ration Card
• Passbook of your bank account
• Secondary School Leaving Certificate/ Certificate of tenth standard
• Certificate of birth
• PAN card
• Passport’s copy
• Driving Licence
• Kisan Card

Note that if you are applying for an NRI voter ID to cast your ballot in a constituency of Odisha, you will also have to produce a valid visa endorsement for the same.

A stepwise guide to the apply for voter ID card in Odisha online procedure is discussed underneath:

Step 1: Navigate to the voter portal of the Election Commission of India.

Step 2: Create an account in order to log in to the website portal.

Step 3: There are a number of forms available on the website. Based on whether you are looking for a new ID or want to apply for an updated one based on changes in your personal details, you will have to fill in different forms.  These include the following:

• Form 6: You will need this form if you are applying for a new ID and a change of constituency.
• Form 6A: If you are an Indian native from Odisha and currently living overseas, this document will come in handy for the NRI voter card application.
• Form 8: If you are availing a new card due to a change in the information available on the card, such as erroneously printed name, date of birth, or image.
• Form 8A: This form is helpful if you have changed your residential address but are still living in the same constituency.

Step 4: Upload the documents necessary, as mentioned in the form you are filling out.

Step 5: Recheck all the data you provided to ensure they are factually correct.

Step 6: Click on the “Submit” button.

Interestingly, voters can now download a digital copy of their voter ID cards – called e-EPIC – from the official portal of the Election Commission of India. So, you will need to follow the steps as mentioned below:

Step 1: Navigate to the official website of National Voter’s Service Portal.

Step 2: Click on the tab “E-EPIC Download”.

Step 3: If you do not have an account, click on “Register as a new user”.

Step 4: Verify your mobile number for this registration purpose.

Step 5: Choose whether you have an EPIC or not.

Step 6: Fill out the sections with the necessary details as per your previous selection.

Step 7: Click on the “Register” button.

Step 8: Next, log in to the portal using the adequate username and password along with a displayed captcha code.

Step 9: Enter your EPIC number or the form reference number, as per requirement.

Step 10: Select “Odisha” from the drop-down menu displayed for the states.

Step 11: Click on the “Search” button.

Step 12: Download the E-EPIC.

If you have applied for an voter ID in Odisha, you can check the status of the application via the following means:

Step 1: Visit the National Voter’s Service Portal [NSVP].

Step 2: Select “Track Application Status”.

Step 3: Enter your reference ID.

Step 4: Select “Odisha” as the state.

Step 5: Click on “Track Status” button.

Subsequently, status of your application will be available to you.

However, please note that there are several other options for how you can check voter ID application status other than using this website. Some of these alternatives include:

• Using an application called “Voter Helpline” from the Election Commission of India.
• For Odisha, you can send a message to the number 9238300131. Send a message in this format: CEOODI< space >voter ID number.
• Calling a toll-free ECI helpline number available for the voter ID applicants.

When you are applying for an voter ID in Odisha, it is always beneficial to keep in mind that:

• If you are a residential Indian, make sure that you are applying to become a voter of the constituency in which you live in.
• It is ideal if there are no previous records of your voter identification card application having a rejected status.
• You should be able to realise that you are of sound mental health.
• Having a past criminal record can jeopardise your application acceptance procedure.
• The documents you are producing should be original and legitimate.
• There must not be any typographical error when you are filling out the application form.

As it can be understood from the discussion above, applying for a voter card in Odisha has become exponentially more effortless due to online procedures. Because you do not have to physically visit the Electoral Registration Office [ERO], you can complete the task from the comfort of your home without any additional stress.