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ECI allows voters to use any of 12 photo IDs, including Aadhaar Card and PAN Card, besides EPIC, to vote. Special arrangements for purdanasheen women ensured.
With two major festivals, Diwali and Chhath, falling between October 20 and 30, the elections are likely to be scheduled in the first two weeks of November. (PTI)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued a statement stating that people whose names are on the voters’ list can display any one of the 12 alternative Photo IDs apart from the Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to exercise their franchise to ease the voting process for electors.
“Election Commission India (ECI) is empowered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, read with the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to direct that the Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) be issued to electors to facilitate their identification and prevent impersonation at the Polling Station,” the statement issued by the poll panel said.
The statement added, “EPICs have been issued to nearly 100 per cent of the electors in Bihar and in the eight Assembly Constituencies going to bye-elections. The Commission had also issued directions to all CEOs to ensure the delivery of EPICs to the new voters within 15 days of final publication of Electoral Rolls.”
The 12 alternative photo identity documents listed by the ECI include: Aadhaar Card; MNREGA Job Card; Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office; Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour/Ayushman Bharat Health Card; Driving Licence; PAN Card; Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR; Indian Passport; Pension document with photograph; Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Government/PSUs/Public Limited Companies; Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card issued by the M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
The poll panel further reiterated that “the presence of a name on the Electoral Roll is a prerequisite to be able to vote on polling day.”
The ECI also addressed the issue of establishing the identity of women who traditionally cover their faces, without offending anyone. “To encourage participation of ‘purdanasheen’ (in burqa or purdah) women, special arrangements shall be made at the Polling Stations as per extant instructions for their dignified identification in the presence of lady Polling Officers/Attendants while ensuring their privacy.”
October 10, 2025, 09:59 IST
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