eci: Youngsters above 17-years-old can now apply in advance to enroll their names in Voter’s list.

Election Commission of India on Thursday announced, youngsters above 17-years-old, no longer have to await the pre-requisite criterion of 18 years on 1st January of a year to enroll themselves in the Voter’s list.

ECI led by Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey directed the CEOs/EROs/AEROs of all States to work out tech-enabled solutions such that the youth are facilitated to file their advance applications.

So far, youngsters can only apply on the first of January. Now, according to the ECI report, any citizen attaining the age of 18 years by April 1, July 1 and October 1 of 2023 can also submit an advance application for registration as a voter from the date of draft publication of electoral roll.

After the new law is enforced the Electoral Roll will be updated every quarter and eligible youngsters can be registered in the next quarter of the year in which he/she has attained the qualifying age of 18 years. Subsequently, the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) will be issued, once the registration is complete which takes only 15-30 days.

The process is initiated in pursuance of the legal amendments in the Section 14(b) of the RP Act 1950 and consequent modifications in Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

The decision is taken with the aim to provide more opportunities for youth to become part of voters list and promote healthy electoral roll.