Some guidelines for first time voters

Some guidelines for FIRST TIME VOTERS:

If you have registered yourself as a voter (being more than 18 years of age at the time of enrolling as per Election Commission of India guidelines), you have the right to exercise your franchise during the forthcoming elections to the Lok Sabha.

1.      Check that your name is listed in your constituency. You can verify this in the electoral rolls displayed in your Ward Office. You can also access the Election Commission of India website eci.nic.in and verify that your name is included.

2.      Also read the Guide published by the Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India on their website: http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2014/apr/d2014040203.pdf

3.      Carry a proof of your identity (any of the documents prescribed by the Election Commission and listed in the above Guide) when you go to cast your vote.

4.      At the Polling Station, one of the polling officers will verify your ID and tick off your name in the Voter’s List available there, ink the FOREFINGER OF YOUR LEFT HAND and take your signature on the Register of Voters (in Form 17A) before directing you to the polling booth to cast your vote.

5.      If the voter does not have a left forefinger, the next finger on the Left hand will be inked. If he does not have any fingers on his left hand, the forefinger of his Right Hand will be inked. The rules laid down by the Election Commission in this regard are strictly followed and the Polling Officer will explain this to you if required.

6.      If the Left Forefinger is already inked (if you have voted in Municipal elections or any other elections held in your constituency recently and the ink mark is still present), your Right Forefinger will be inked.

7.      After inking your finger, the officer will direct you to a vacant voting booth to cast your vote.

8.      Please remember that the voting is through secret ballot. You will be allowed to vote in secrecy and nobody can compel you to reveal which candidate or which party you voted for.

9.      Electronic voting machines are being used for voting. The machine will display the names and election symbols of the contesting candidates. There is a blue button against each name. When you depress the blue button against the name of the candidate you choose, a red light will glow along with a “beep” sound, indicating that your vote has been registered.

10.  You may also use the “None Of The Above” option by pressing the NOTA (None Of The Above) button, which is the last button on the machine, to indicate that you do not wish to vote for any of the candidates in the list.

AS A CITIZEN OF INDIA IT IS YOUR DUTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS BY CASTING YOUR VOTE.

(Compiled by Shiva Kumar)