Enrolling as a voter immediately on turning 18 could overwhelm authorities: Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (November 6, 2025) observed that there is a difference between “freedom to vote and the right to vote” and said if every person applies for voter registration as soon as they turn 18, it will become “very challenging” for Election Commission (EC) officials to verify and “open the floodgates”.

A bench comprising Justices Riyaz Chagla and Farhan Dubash was hearing the petition of Rupika Singh, who turned 18 in April this year and moved the HC after her application to be registered as a voter was rejected as the last date for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections held in November 2024 was October 1, 2024.

“There is a difference between the freedom to vote and the right to vote. Once you turn 18, you have the freedom to vote. But this right comes only when the voter list is revised and the petitioner becomes ineligible to vote as the electoral roll is already ready,” the bench said, citing a Supreme Court judgment.

“If everyone starts registering as a voter as soon as they turn 18, the EC may have to verify every application and the floodgates may open. A person can register whenever there is a revision in the electoral roll,” the court added.

Ms Singh, who turned 18 this year, re-applied to register as a voter through the EC’s website. However, the transaction was not processed as there was no option on the website to select the date of birth for Maharashtra citizens who have attained the age of 18 on or after October 2, 2024.

According to the petition, he also applied personally, but it was not successful. The EC had earlier announced that it would accept the October 2024 voter list for the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra.

Senior advocate Ashutosh Kumbakoni, appearing for the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commission, agreed to consider Ms Singh’s voter application after the court asked whether the authority would consider the application.