Photo Voter Slips Not To Be Valid As Stand-Alone Identification Document for Voting.
In a recent press release from Election Commission, it has been made clear that photo voter slips not to be valid as stand-alone identification document for voting. Electors Photo Identity Card or one of The Eleven Specified Photo Identity Documents, Essential for Casting Vote. The Election Commission of India has directed that all electors in all constituencies who have been issued Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) have to produce the Electors Photo Identity Card for their identification at the polling station before casting their votes. Those electors who are not able to produce the EPIC shall produce one of the following alternative photo identity documents for establishing their identity.
The Eleven essential Specified Photo Identity Documents for Casting Vote are:
- Passport,
- Driving License,
- Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies,
- Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office,
- PAN Card,
- Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR,
- MNREGA Job Card,
- Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour,
- Pension document with photograph,
- Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, and
- Aadhaar Card.
Note: Overseas electors shall have to produce their original passport only for identification.
In order to make it clear to the electors that Photo Voter Slips shall not be accepted as a stand-alone identification document for voting, the words “THIS SLIP WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFICATION IN POLLING STATION. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY EPIC OR ONE OF THE 11 ALTERNATIVE DOCUMENTS SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSION FOR VOTING” shall be printed on the Photo Voter Slip in bold letters.
All Returning Officers and all Presiding Officers are being informed of these instructions. A copy of the instructions translated in the vernacular language will be supplied to each of the Presiding Officers. The Order shall be got published in the State, Gazette, immediately and publicised through print/electronic media for information of the general public and electors immediately and at very regular intervals till the date of polling.
