After the Election Commission published the draft voter list, the general public has started to change or transfer their voter cards. Many have changed their residence from one place to another due to work or marriage. But the old address remains on the voter card. There is no need to worry, now there is no need to stand in long lines. It is possible to change the address of the voter card very easily from home through a smartphone.
The process of transferring a voter card from one assembly to another or from one village to another within the same assembly is now completely digital. This requires knowing the correct rules and certain documents.
Basic steps for a change of address
To change the address of your voter card, you need to use the official portal of the Election Commission voters.gov.in. After logging in to the portal, you need to select ‘Form 8’. Remember, this form is used for all corrections and transfers of voter cards. While logging in, use your mobile number and select the ‘Self’ option. If you are applying on behalf of another family member, then you need to select the ‘Other Elector’ option and provide their EPIC number.
Shifting vs Correction: Which one is for you?
Many people get confused while applying whether to choose the ‘Correction of Entries’ or ‘Shifting of Residence’ option. It is very important to be clear about this.
Shifting of Residence: If you are moving from one place to another permanently and there is no mistake in your name, father’s name or date of birth, then you need to select this option only for change of address.
Correction of Entries: Use this option only if there is any mistake in the information or spelling of the card from the current address. It is not applicable for change of address.
Special advice for married women: In case of change of address after marriage, first transfer the voter card to the in-laws’ address using the ‘Shifting of Residence’ option. After the card transfer, if there is a need to change the surname, you will have to fill Form 8 again and go to the ‘Correction’ option to change the name.
While applying for change of address, you will have to upload certain documents as proof. The documents should be in JPG format and within 2 MB in size. Below is a list of acceptable documents:
| Document Type | Examples |
|---|
| Identity and Address Proof | Aadhaar Card, Passport, Driving License |
| Alternative Proof | Panchayat Residential Certificate (if no other document is available at the new address) |
| Special Case for Married Women | Marriage Certificate and Certificate from Panchayat Pradhan (scanned together) |
Form Submission and Verification
After selecting the details of the new address, i.e. State, District and Assembly name correctly, type your complete address in English. The system will automatically convert it to Bengali. If there is a spelling mistake, correct it using the on-screen keyboard. Finally, verify the OTP through the Aadhaar e-Sign process and submit the application.
After submitting the application, you will receive a reference number, which can be used to check the status later. Usually, the BLO can come to your house to do the verification or you may be called for a hearing at the local BDO or Panchayat office with the necessary documents. If you have the correct documents, your voter card will be transferred to the new address very quickly.
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