Page 13 - General Election

2. A Guide to Voter Registration in India

Voting is a fundamental right and a crucial aspect of democratic governance.
In India, the electoral process is designed to be inclusive, allowing citizens to participate in

shaping the future of the nation. Hence, understanding the intricacies of voter registration is
essential for every eligible citizen.

There are three categories of electors in India:

i. General Electors - every Indian citizen who attains the age of 18 years on the qualifying
date, i.e., the first day of January of the year of the electoral roll revision, is eligible for
registration as a voter. The individual must be ordinarily resident in the constituency

unless disqualified.

ii. Overseas/NRI Voter - a citizen of India, absent from the country owing to employment,
education etc., has not acquired citizenship of any other country and are otherwise

eligible to be registered as a voter in the address mentioned in your passport.

iii. Service Voters – a citizen of India in the Armed Forces of India, from Assam Rifles, CRPF,
BSF, ITBF; GREF in Border Road Organization; Central Industrial Security Force, employed
under the Government of India, in a post outside India, member of an Armed Police Force
of a State, and serving outside that state

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