Sample RTI: Voter ID Card Status, EPIC Issue and Electoral Roll Inclusion
Direct answer. If your Voter ID (EPIC) has not been delivered after Form 6, 8 or 8A submission, or your name is missing from the electoral roll, file a free RTI to the Public Information Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of your State, with a copy to the District Election Officer. Ask for the receipt status, decision on your form, EPIC despatch date, and reason for any rejection. Reply due in 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. Fee: Rs 10 (BPL: nil).
When to use this RTI
- Form 6 (new voter inclusion) submitted but no EPIC received after 30 days.
- Form 8 (correction in entries: name, age, address, photograph) pending beyond the publicly notified window.
- Form 8A (transposition within constituency) accepted online but not reflected in the roll.
- EPIC delivered with misprint (wrong photograph, garbled name, incorrect date of birth, wrong constituency).
- Name silently deleted from the roll without a Form 7 by you.
- Repeated objection by Booth Level Officer (BLO) without reasons recorded.
- Online status on voters.eci.gov.in stuck for weeks at “Under Review” or “Field Verification”.
When NOT to use this RTI
- Aadhaar-linking grievance: use the ECI Aadhaar grievance portal first; RTI helps only if that portal stays silent.
- General complaint about polling-day issues: lodge a complaint on cVIGIL or the National Grievance Service portal first.
- Asking about another voter's records: refused under Section 8(1)(j) unless you are that voter or have lawful authority. See the privacy caution below.
- Election-petition-style relief: an RTI cannot reverse a roll deletion; only a revision-officer order or High Court election petition can.
Drafting notes
- Quote your Form acknowledgement number (Form 6 / 8 / 8A reference) and date of submission.
- Specify the Assembly Constituency number and Part number / Serial number (if known) of the electoral roll.
- Ask for the certified copy of the file noting rather than a summary.
- Limit the date-range to your application date plus 30 days, so the PIO cannot plead “voluminous” under Section 7(9).
- Attach the Form acknowledgement printout and the BLO visit slip if you have one.
- Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due to fix a filing-date proof.
Privacy caution
Under Section 11 of the RTI Act read with Section 8(1)(j), you cannot ask for a third party's voter records (their photograph, address, registration form). Limit the request to your own EPIC, your own application, your own Part of the roll. If you genuinely need the public roll for objection purposes, ask only for the published Part of the roll, which is already in the public domain at electoralsearch.eci.gov.in.
Sample format
To
The Public Information Officer
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
[State], [Full Postal Address with PIN]
Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:
Status of Voter ID / EPIC application, Form [6 / 8 / 8A] reference [XXXX]
Sir / Madam,
1. I, [Full name], a citizen of India residing at [full address with PIN], apply
under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, for the records below.
2. Particulars for record-identification:
Form type : [Form 6 / Form 8 / Form 8A]
Acknowledgement No. : [XXXXXXXXXX]
Date of submission : [DD/MM/YYYY]
Assembly Constituency: [Number and Name]
Part / Serial No. : [if known]
Mode of submission : Online (voters.eci.gov.in) / Offline at BLO
3. Information sought (please supply certified copies):
(a) Date of receipt of my Form by your office.
(b) Current status as on date of reply, with date of last action.
(c) File noting recording every officer's action on my Form.
(d) Decision taken (accepted / rejected / pending objection) and the
reasons recorded.
(e) If accepted, the EPIC despatch date and the courier or postal tracking
number.
(f) If rejected, the certified copy of the rejection order with grounds.
(g) If a Booth Level Officer field visit was scheduled, the date of visit
and the certified copy of the BLO report.
(h) Name, designation and office address of the officer presently holding
my Form.
4. I enclose the prescribed application fee of Rs 10 by way of Indian Postal
Order in favour of the Accounts Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral
Officer, [State].
5. Please send the reply to the address below by Registered Post.
Yours faithfully,
Signature
Name : ___________________
Address : ___________________
Date : ___________________
First appeal wording
To
The First Appellate Authority
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
[State]
Subject: First appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:
Non-supply of information on Voter ID / EPIC application
Sir / Madam,
1. I filed RTI application dated [DD/MM/YYYY] (acknowledgement / Speed Post No.
[XXXX]) seeking the records listed therein on Form [6 / 8 / 8A] of [date].
2. The 30-day period under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 expired on
[DD/MM/YYYY]. The PIO has either not replied at all (deemed refusal under
Section 7(2)) or has replied incompletely on the following points: [list].
3. I therefore prefer this first appeal under Section 19(1) and pray that the
PIO be directed to supply the records sought within the time fixed by you.
4. I also draw attention to Section 19(8)(a)(i) on costs and Section 20(1) on
penalties for unreasonable delay.
Yours faithfully,
Signature
Name : ___________________
Address : ___________________
Date : ___________________
Sources
- eci.gov.in: Election Commission of India, official portal.
- voters.eci.gov.in: voter services and Form 6 / 8 / 8A submission.
- electoralsearch.eci.gov.in: search the published electoral roll.
- The Representation of the People Act, 1950: legal basis for preparation of electoral rolls.
- The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: procedure for inclusion, correction and deletion.
- The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7(1) and 19(1).
FAQs
How long does the CEO have to reply to an RTI on my Voter ID?
Thirty days from the date the PIO receives your application, under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. Silence past day 30 is a deemed refusal under Section 7(2) and lets you file a first appeal at once.
Can I ask for someone else's voter records?
No. Another voter's photograph, address and Form fall within Section 8(1)(j). The PIO will refuse unless you produce that voter's written consent or a court order. Restrict the request to your own records.
What if my name was deleted from the roll without notice?
Ask in your RTI for the certified copy of the deletion order, the Form 7 (if any), the BLO field-visit report, and the file noting authorising deletion. If the PIO confirms there was no Form 7 by you, that is strong proof for a revision-officer claim.
Is the application fee payable for an EPIC RTI?
Yes, Rs 10 by Indian Postal Order in favour of the Accounts Officer of the Office of the CEO. BPL applicants pay nothing under Section 7(5), on attaching a self-attested BPL card.
Should I file at the District Election Officer or the State CEO?
Either works because both are public authorities under Section 2(h). For best results, file at the CEO of your State with a copy to the District Election Officer (DEO). The CEO usually transfers the request internally under Section 6(3) within five days.
Can I file the RTI online?
Central RTIs go through rtionline.gov.in but the CEO offices are State authorities. Most States accept RTI by post or in person at the CEO front-office. A few accept online filing through the State RTI portal. Check your State CEO website.
Internal links
- AI RTI Drafter: builds a customised letter in 60 seconds.
- Sample RTI index: full library of citizen samples.
- First appeal guide: Section 19(1) procedure.
- Sample RTI: passport: cousin sample for MEA.
- Sample RTI: ration card delay: similar State-portfolio fix.
- Sample RTI: scholarship delay: another State-Centre joint authority.
Last reviewed: 9 May 2026
Sources verified against the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the RTI Act, 2005, and the Election Commission of India primary portal as on 9 May 2026.