Election Commission Permits 12 Alternative Photo IDs for Voting; EPIC Not Mandatory
Voters can now use Aadhaar, driving license, PAN card, passport, and other photo IDs to cast their ballots.
New Delhi, Oct 10 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday that voters can now cast their ballots using any one of 12 alternative photo identification documents, in addition to the traditional Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC).
The acceptable alternatives include:
Aadhaar Card
MNREGA Job Card
Bank or post office passbooks with photograph
Health insurance smart cards issued under the Ministry of Labour or Ayushman Bharat Health Card
Driving license
PAN card
Smart cards issued by the Registrar General of India under the National Population Register (NPR)
Indian passport
Pension documents with photograph
Service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by Central or State Governments, PSUs, or Public Limited Companies
Official identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs, and MLCs
Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
The ECI clarified that possessing an EPIC is not mandatory to vote, as long as the voter’s name appears on the electoral roll.
Special arrangements have also been made for women wearing burqas or purdah to ensure dignified identification at polling stations.
This move aims to increase voter accessibility and simplify the process for citizens who may not possess an EPIC, while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
