Almost 1.8 crore Indians in the 18–19 age group will cast their first votes, according to the Election Commission (EC)

New Delhi, 18 March 2024

The Election Commission of India released the schedule for the next Lok Sabha election on March 16. The Lok Sabha elections, which are set for April 19–June 1, will see almost 1.8 crore Indians in the 18–19 age group cast their first votes, according to the Election Commission (EC). Voting for 543 Lok Sabha seats will take held in seven stages: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.The vote-counting will be done on June 4. It is the right of every Indian citizen who turns 18 on January 1st of the year the electoral roll is prepared to be registered to vote in that constituency.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for first-time voters

1. To cast a vote, first-time voters must register on the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) official website. They must fill out Form 6 online at the National Voters’ Service Portal in order to register. By submitting the application in person before the Electoral Registration Officers or Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, they can also enroll offline.
2. The next step for voters is to confirm if their name is on the electoral roll of the constituency where they at present live.
3. They can verify this by visiting the ECI website or contacting the local voter registration officer.
4. Voters must appear at their voting places on Election Day and provide their identity documents to the First polling Officer. They next have to proceed to the Second Polling Officer, who will use the permanent ink to mark their left forefinger.
5. After that, voters must sign the Register of Voters or leave their thumb impression.
6. The blue candidate button on the balloting unit on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) must be pressed by voters next to the name and symbol of the candidate of their choice. The name and emblem of the contender will be illuminated by the red bulb.
7. Upon voting, a confirmation slip will be given to the voter and a beep sound will be heard.
8. The polling station presiding officer is the person to contact if a voter has any complaints about the electoral roll or anything else election-related.

Prateeksha Thakur

Prateeksha Kumari is a journalist and strategic communications professional specialising in digital journalism, political reporting, and public affairs. Her work focuses on grassroots issues, governance, and civic developments, with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, and narrative-driven reporting.

She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and has qualified the UGC-NET examination, reflecting her academic grounding in media studies and communication research. Her reporting spans politics, public policy, health, education, and socio-economic issues, and she is experienced in bilingual (Hindi and English) content creation tailored to diverse audiences.

Alongside her journalistic work, she brings experience in political communication and public relations, where she has contributed to campaign messaging, media outreach, and narrative building. She has worked on integrated communication strategies across print and digital platforms, combining editorial judgment with audience insight and data-led content approaches.