The Voter ID Card, officially known as the Elector's Photo Identity Card (EPIC), is issued by the Election Commission of India to eligible citizens aged 18 and above. While its primary purpose is to allow citizens to cast their vote, it is also one of the most powerful and universally accepted proofs of identity and address. Banks and financial institutions rely heavily on it as an Officially Valid Document (OVD) for fulfilling KYC requirements for opening accounts and processing loans.

Issued by Election Commission of India (ECI) · Election Commission of India

• Opening a bank account
  accepted as a primary Officially Valid Document (OVD) for identity and address proof under RBI KYC Master Directions

• Applying for credit cards
  accepted for identity and address verification

• Taking a loan
  serves as a robust KYC document for address and identity proof

• Buying insurance
  accepted for identity and address proof

• Mutual funds and demat accounts
  accepted to complete KYC requirements

• Updating KYC
  used for periodic updation of KYC details with banks

• Indian citizens aged 18 years or above on the qualifying date

• NRIs (Overseas Citizens of India) who hold a valid Indian Passport

• Minors below 18 years of age

• Foreign nationals

• Persons disqualified under any law

• Proof of Age
  any one of Birth Certificate, Class 10 marksheet, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Driving Licence, or Passport

• Proof of Address
  any one of Aadhaar Card, Bank passbook, Electricity bill, Rent agreement, Water bill, or Passport

• Photograph
  recent passport size color photograph with white background

1. 1

   Visit the official portal at voters.eci.gov.in

2. 2

   Click on 'Sign-Up' to create an account or 'Login' if you already have one

3. 3

   Click on 'Form 6 - Register as a New Voter/Elector'

4. 4

   Fill in personal details, address, and family details

5. 5

   Upload the required proof of age, proof of address, and your photograph

6. 6

   Submit the application and note the reference number for tracking

1. 1

   Visit the nearest Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Booth Level Officer (BLO)

2. 2

   Collect Form 6 for new registration

3. 3

   Fill the form with correct details

4. 4

   Attach self-attested copies of age proof, address proof, and a passport-size photograph

5. 5

   Submit the form and documents to the BLO or ERO office

6. 6

   Keep the acknowledgment slip for tracking

• Official Voters Service Portal (voters.eci.gov.in)

• Voter Helpline App (Android/iOS)

• Booth Level Officer (BLO)

• Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) offices

• Voter Facilitation Centres

• Check via the Voter Helpline App by scanning the barcode or QR code

• Verify using the 'Search in Electoral Roll' feature on voters.eci.gov.in

• Offline verification by banks using official databases

• Physical PVC EPIC
  standard credit-card sized colour ID with security features

• e-EPIC
  secure PDF version of the Voter ID which can be downloaded and printed

• DigiLocker EPIC
  digital copy stored directly in DigiLocker

1. 1

   Go to voters.eci.gov.in and login

2. 2

   Click on 'E-EPIC Download'

3. 3

   Enter your EPIC number or Form Reference Number

4. 4

   Select your state and click 'Search'

5. 5

   Verify with OTP sent to your registered mobile number

6. 6

   Click 'Download e-EPIC' to get the PDF

1. 1

   Go to voters.eci.gov.in and login

2. 2

   Select 'Form 8 - Shifting / Correction / Replacement of EPIC / Marking PwD'

3. 3

   Choose 'Correction of Entries in Existing Electoral Roll'

4. 4

   Select the fields to change (Name, Address, DOB, etc.)

5. 5

   Upload the supporting document for the correction

6. 6

   Submit and save the reference number

1. 1

   Go to voters.eci.gov.in

2. 2

   Click on 'Track Application Status'

3. 3

   Enter your Reference Number and select your State

4. 4

   Click 'Submit' to view current status

1. 1

   File an FIR or police report if lost (required in some states)

2. 2

   Go to voters.eci.gov.in and login

3. 3

   Fill Form 8

4. 4

   Select 'Issue of Replacement EPIC Without Correction'

5. 5

   Choose the reason (Lost/Destroyed/Mutilated)

6. 6

   Submit and pay the nominal replacement fee (around ₹25) to the BLO or ERO if requested

7. 7

   The new card will be sent via post

• Aadhaar Linking
  optional but encouraged by submitting Form 6B

• Mobile Number Linking
  mandatory for downloading e-EPIC

• It is a closed list Officially Valid Document (OVD) under RBI guidelines, meaning banks must accept it for KYC

• You can have only one Voter ID; having multiple is illegal

• e-EPIC holds the exact same legal validity as the physical card

• You can download the e-EPIC from the portal even if you applied offline, provided your mobile number is linked

• Moving to a new state requires you to shift your constituency using Form 8, not apply for a new card

• It serves as proof of citizenship only for voting purposes, though widely used for general identity

• Uploading a selfie instead of a proper passport-size photograph with a white background (Fix: always use a formal studio photo)

• Applying for a new Voter ID (Form 6) when shifting residence (Fix: you must use Form 8 to shift residence; creating duplicates is illegal)

• Mismatch in details with the submitted proof documents (Fix: ensure exact spelling and date of birth match your Aadhaar or PAN)

• Not linking a mobile number during application (Fix: provide a unique mobile number so you can download the e-EPIC later)

• Do not share the EPIC number or photocopies on unverified websites

• Always self-attest photocopies of your Voter ID with the date and specific purpose (e.g., 'For HDFC bank account opening only')

• Download e-EPIC only from the official ECI website or DigiLocker

• Beware of fraudulent agents claiming to expedite Voter ID processing for money; the service is free online

• National Toll-Free Helpline: 1950

• Email: complaints@eci.gov.in

• Official Grievance Portal: eci.gov.in/complaints

• voters.eci.gov.in
• eci.gov.in
• rbi.org.in

Last checked: 4 November 2026

Rules, fees and timelines change. Always confirm on the official website before you apply.