PANAJI: Ahead of the upcoming Ponda by-elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has allowed the use of 12 alternative photo identity documents, including Aadhar, driving license, and passport, to establish identity while casting a vote in case the voter is unable to produce the EPIC card.
However, the overseas electors registered under Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, are concerned; they will have to present their original passport as the sole valid identity document at the polling station.
As per the press communication by ECI, all electors who have been issued an EPIC are required to present it at polling stations before casting their votes.
“However, those unable to produce their EPIC must present one of the 12 approved alternative photo identity documents to establish their identity,” ECI said.
The documents include Aadhaar Card, MGNREGA Job Card, passbooks with photographs issued by banks or post offices, health insurance smart cards issued under schemes of the Ministry of Labour or Ayushman Bharat, driving license, PAN card, smart card issued under NPR, Indian passport, pension documents with photograph, service identity cards issued by government bodies or public sector units, official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, and the Unique Disability ID (UDID) card issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
ECI has also issued similar directions regarding voter identification for the general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, as well as for by-elections to eight Assembly constituencies across six states.
ECI has asked polling officers to ignore minor clerical errors or spelling mistakes on the EPIC cards, provided the elector’s identity is established.
The Election Commission has also allowed acceptance of EPICs issued by the Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly constituency, as long as the elector’s name appears in the electoral roll of the polling station where they are voting. “However, if identity cannot be established due to issues such as a mismatched photograph, the elector must present one of the alternative photo identity documents,” ECI clarified.
