GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th Oct: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that voters whose names appear on the electoral rolls can use any one of 12 approved photo identity documents apart from the Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to cast their vote.
The ECI, empowered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, stated that the measure aims to ensure convenience for electors and prevent impersonation at polling stations.
Nearly 100% of electors in Bihar and in the eight Assembly constituencies going to by-elections have already been issued EPICs. The Commission has directed Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to deliver EPICs to new voters within 15 days of the final publication of electoral rolls.
For voters unable to produce EPICs, the ECI’s notification dated October 7, 2025, allows the use of any one of the following 12 documents for identification:
- Aadhaar Card
- MNREGA Job Card
- Bank/Post Office Passbook with photograph
- Health Insurance Smart Card (Ministry of Labour/Ayushman Bharat)
- Driving License
- PAN Card
- Smart Card issued under the NPR
- Indian Passport
- Pension Document with photograph
- Service ID Card (Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies)
- Official ID Card (MPs/MLAs/MLCs)
- Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card issued by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
The Commission reiterated that having one’s name on the electoral roll is mandatory to vote. Special arrangements will also be made for ‘purdanasheen’ women to ensure dignified and private identification in the presence of lady polling officers.
Comments are closed.