Election Commission makes EPICs mandatory for voting

Shimla, March 31, 2017: A spokesman of the State Election Department said here today that all the electors of 36-Bhoranj (SC) Assembly Constituency who have been issued Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) shall have to produce these cards for voting on 9th April, 2017.

He said if any elector fails to produce his/her EPIC such electors shall have to produce alternative photo documents for establishing their identity which could be Passport, driving license, service identity cards with photographs issued to employees by State/Central Government, PUSs/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 Scheme Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, Pension document with photograph, Authenticated Photo Voter Slip issued by the election machinery and official identity cards issued to MPS/MLAs/MLCs or Aaadhar Card.

The Election Commission has further clarified that in case of EPIC, clerical errors, spelling mistakes etc. should be ignored provided the identity of the elector can be established by the EPIC. If it is not possible to establish the identity of the elector on account of mismatch of photograph, etc. the elector shall have to produce one of the alternative photo documents mentioned above.

He said overseas electors who are registered in the electoral under Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 based on the particulars in their passport, shall be identified on the basis of their original passport only (and no other identity document) in the polling station.