Guide
Documents required for a new voter ID card (Form 6)
- Form
- Form 6, for first-time voters
- Age
- 18, or turning 18 on a qualifying date
- Photo
- 4.5 x 3.5 cm, colour, white background
You register as a voter with Form 6, online, on the Voter Helpline app or through your Booth Level Officer. Here is what to attach, from the Election Commission's own form.
A real moment
“You turned 18 last month and want your name on the roll before the election. The form asks for age proof, and your Class 10 certificate is at your old school.”
For a new voter ID, fill Form 6 and attach one self-attested age proof, such as a birth certificate, Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, Class 10 or 12 certificate or passport, one self-attested address proof, and a recent 4.5 x 3.5 cm colour photo on white. Apply on voters.eci.gov.in, the Voter Helpline app or through your BLO.
The checklist
What to have ready
Last checked against the official sources on 1 October 2026
Everyone
- Form 6For enrolment as a new voter.
- One age proof, self-attestedBirth certificate, Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, Class 10 or 12 certificate showing your date of birth, or an Indian passport.
- One address proof, self-attestedA water, electricity or gas bill for the address, Aadhaar, a current bank or post office passbook, an Indian passport, land records, a registered rent deed or a registered sale deed. It can be in the name of a parent, spouse or adult child already enrolled at the address.
- A recent photoPassport size, 4.5 x 3.5 cm, colour, unsigned, on a white background, with eyes open.
Only if they apply
- Aadhaar numberAsked for on the form; you can declare that you do not have one.Only if you have an Aadhaar
- Another age documentYou then appear in person before the Electoral Registration Officer.Only if you have none of the listed age proofs
- Declaration form (Annexure IV)Shown alongside Form 6 during the Special Intensive Revision.Only if your state is under the 2026 Special Intensive Revision
From ECI's own Form 6
Age and address proofs that count
Apply before you turn 18
Form
Form 6, for first-time voters
Age
18, or turning 18 on a qualifying date
Photo
4.5 x 3.5 cm, colour, white background
Apply
Online, Voter Helpline app, or your BLO
Who can apply
Fill Form 6 if you are 18 or older, or will turn 18 soon. There are four qualifying dates a year, 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October, and you can apply in advance for the one on which you turn 18.
Age proof
Attach a self-attested copy of one of these: a birth certificate, Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, a Class 10 or 12 certificate that shows your date of birth, or an Indian passport. If you have none, attach another document and appear in person for verification.
Address proof
Attach one self-attested address proof, such as a utility bill, Aadhaar, a current passbook, a passport, land records or a registered rent or sale deed. It can be in a parent's, spouse's or adult child's name if they are already enrolled there. Students can enrol at home or at their hostel.
Apply online, on the app or offline
Apply on the ECI's Voters' Service Portal, through the Voter Helpline app, or offline through your Booth Level Officer. Once enrolled, you can download your e-EPIC from the same portal.
Step by step
- 1
Check that you will be 18 on a qualifying date.
- 2
Scan one age proof and one address proof into DigiSafe.
- 3
Make a 4.5 x 3.5 cm colour photo on a white background.
- 4
Fill Form 6 on voters.eci.gov.in or the Voter Helpline app.
- 5
Upload the self-attested copies and submit.
- 6
Once enrolled, download your e-EPIC and keep it in DigiSafe.
Questions people ask
What documents are required for a voter ID card?+
Form 6, one self-attested age proof, one self-attested address proof, and a recent 4.5 x 3.5 cm colour photo on a white background.
Can I apply for a voter ID before I turn 18?+
Yes. With four qualifying dates a year, you can apply in advance with Form 6 if you are turning 18 on one of them.
Is Aadhaar compulsory for a voter ID?+
No. Form 6 asks for your Aadhaar number, but you can declare that you do not have one. Aadhaar is one of several accepted age and address proofs.
Can students register at their hostel address?+
Yes. The ECI says eligible students can enrol either at their parents' place or at the hostel where they live.
Where this comes from
Official sources, dated.
Every requirement on this page comes from the official pages listed here, last checked on 1 October 2026. Rules change and offices can ask for more, so check the official page before you go.
Read next
Download voter ID
The e-EPIC is a PDF copy of your voter ID that you can keep on your phone or print.
Lost voter ID
There are two answers: a printed replacement card through Form 8, and a digital e-EPIC you can download today.
Proof of address
There is no single list: the bank, the DMV and the passport office each publish their own.
Do it in a minute, on your phone.
DigiSafe is free, encrypted on your device, and it works offline.