Kerala Elections: How To Vote? A Guide To First Time Voters

The second phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held in 13 states and union territories on Friday including in Kerala.

Kerala Elections

194 candidates across 20 Lok Sabha seats are vying for public support after a month-long intense campaign by the CPI(M)-led LDF, Congress-headed UDF, and the BJP-led NDA.

According to the Election Commission, Kerala has over 2.75 crore voters, with polling scheduled to begin at 7 am. However, the worrying part of the story is the decline in number of first-time voters compared to the previous election cycle.

This election sees a total of 2,77,49,159 voters in the state, including 5.49 lakh five lakh first-time voters. In 2019, it was 5.34 lakh new voters.

New to voting? Here's your comprehensive guide:

Voting Timings:
Polling will take place from 7 am to 6 pm. To beat the rush, aim to visit the polling booth early in the morning.

Before stepping out of home, locate your polling booth through the steps provided below online:

• Visit electoralsearch.eci.gov.in.
• Input your EPIC code, state, captcha code, and click 'Search.'
• Your booth details will be displayed.

Finding Your EPIC Number:

• Visit the official NVSP portal - electoralsearch.eci.gov.in.
• Navigate to 'Services' and select 'Search in Electoral Roll'.
• Choose 'Search by Details' or 'Search by Mobile'.
• Provide the required information and captcha code to retrieve your EPIC number.

Voting Process:

How To Vote?

• At the polling booth, approach the officers in a row.
• Show your Voter ID or other valid identification to the left officer.
• The middle officer will mark your finger with indelible ink.
• Proceed to the right officer for name verification on the electoral roll.
• Cast your vote on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). Select your preferred party and press the blue button. The EVM's LED will turn red, and a slip will be generated by the VVPAT machine as confirmation.
• If there's any discrepancy, report it to the presiding officer.

Lost Your Voter ID?

You can still vote if your name is on the official voter list. Bring any of these identification cards:

• Aadhaar Card
• MNREGA Job Card
• Passbooks with photograph issued by Banks/Post Office
• Health Insurance Smart Card issued by the Ministry of Labour
• Driving License
• PAN Card
• Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR
• Indian Passport
• Pension document with photograph
• Service Identity Cards issued by Government agencies
• Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs
• Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card issued by the Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment