Voters can now use any of the 12 approved ID cards for casting their votes, the Election Commission said on Thursday.
Till now, a photo voter slip was the only identification document that was allowed for casting one’s vote.
In a statement, the Commission said this step is being taken to ensure that no voter is left behind. On earlier occasions, the Commission had allowed photo voter slips as identification document. However, there were representations against their use as a standalone identification on grounds of misuse as these are printed after the electoral rolls are finalised and distributed close to the day of the polls
“To ensure that no voter is left behind, henceforth, the EC has directed that anybody with the photo voter slip shall bring any of twelve approved ID cards to the polling station for his/her identification,” the Commission said in a statement.
The approved ID cards include passport, driving licence, service identity card with photograph issued to the employees of central or State governments, public sector undertakings and public limited companies, MNREGA job cards, pension documents with photograph and Aadhar card among others.
The statement adds that minor discrepancies in the entries should be ignored, provided the identity of an elector can be established by the Electronic Privacy Information Centre (EPIC).
“If an elector produces an EPIC, which has been issued by the Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly constituency, such card shall be accepted for identification, provided the name of that elector finds place in the electoral roll pertaining to the polling station where the elector has turned up for voting,” the statement says.
It is estimated that over 80 crore electors will be eligible to vote for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
If elections to some State Assemblies are held along with the Lok Sabha elections, then the number of eligible electors will increase manifold.