How To Vote: All you need to know to cast your vote for Lok Sabha 2019, Phase 6

As the voting excitement comes to a head with Phase 6 of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on May 12, almost 1.5 crore Indians will be casting their first vote.

Come Sunday and polling will commence in 59 Parliamentary constituencies across seven states – Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi-NCR. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

If you are a voting newbie, do not feel daunted to exercise your constitutional right! Here's how to get started:

Check voters' list

Start by checking whether your name is present in the voters' list of your area. Just SMS your Voter ID card number (also known as EPIC or Electors Photo Identity Card) to 1950 in the format

ECI (Your EPIC Number)

Example- If your EPIC No is 1234, SMS ECI 1234 to 1950

Download voter slip 

Then, download the mandatory voter slip by logging onto the official National Voter Services Portal website (https://www.nvsp.in/) and click on 'Search Your Name in Electoral Roll' option. Fill in your details and press search. When your name appears at the bottom of the page, click on view details to get directed to your voter slip for 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

Print your voter slip and present it along with your photo identity card at your polling station.

Finding your polling station

So, you have your voter slip and are all set. Now, all you need is to find your polling station where you will cast your vote. The national capital itself, New Delhi, has more than 12,000 booths. Here’s how to find yours:

OPTION 1: Call the helpline number 1950 after adding your area STD codes to check for your polling station or SMS the same number in the format

ECIPS (Your EPIC Number)

Example- If your EPIC No is 1234, SMS ECIPS 1234

OPTION 2: Log onto the official National Voter Services Portal website at https://electoralsearch.in/ and fill in your details to find your polling station.

OPTION 3: This option is valid only for Delhi-based voters. If you're an Android smartphone user, download Woogly app, click on ‘Polling booths in Delhi’ on the app’s home page to find yours as well as get directions to get there. You can download the app here. 

Casting vote without Voter ID

Registered voters without Voter ID cards who have their names in the voters’ list are eligible to vote by just showing their photo identity card.

Here’s a list of valid identity proofs:

PAN card

Aadhaar card

Passport

Driving License

Service photo ID Cards issued to Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies's employees

Bank/Post Office's Passbooks with attested photograph

Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MNREGA) Job Card

Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour

Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs

Pension document with a photograph

Happy Voting!

Also read: Lok Sabha 2019: Are the elections affecting your dating life?