Voter slips issued on polling eve will no longer be accepted as standalone document: EC

NEW DELHI: Photo voter slips issued on poll-eve will no longer be accepted as a standalone document for identification of electors at the polling station, the Election Commission said in an order issued days before general election to the Lok Sabha and few state assemblies are to be announced. The reason cited by EC to state chief electoral officers is that the photo voter slip does not incorporate any security feature, leaving scope for misuse.

As per EC order issued on Thursday, voters shall have to produce electoral photo identity card (EPIC) issued to them, for identification prior to voting. However, if they are not able to produce EPIC for some reason, 11 other alternative documents shall be accepted. These include passport, driving licence, service identity cards issued by any government, bank/post office passbooks with photograph, PAN card, smartcard issued by RGI under NPR, MNREGA job card, health insurance smartcard issued by labour ministry, pension document with photograph, official identity cards issues to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and aadhaar card.

The Commission, in a letter sent fo chief electoral officers of all states and UTs on Thursday, said photo voter slip was started as an alternative document (for voter identification) as coverage of EPIC was not complete (then). Recently, representations were made before EC against use of photo voter slips for identification on the grounds of misuse as these are printed after finalisation of the roll and distributed close to the poll through booth level officers.

With both EPIC and aadhaar coverage now over 99%, the Commission decided that “photo voter slip shall henceforth not be accepted as a standalone identification document for voting”. While the slip will continue to be issued to electors, there will be a printed disclaimer that it will not be accepted for purpose of identification in the polling station.

The Commission said that overseas electors will be required to mandatorily produce their original passport for identification.

EC further said clerical errors and spelling mistakes in EPIC may be ignored by polling staff as long as identity of the elector can be established. An EPIC issued by ERO of another assembly constituency would be accepted provided the elector’s name figures in the electoral rolls of the constituency where he/she has turned up for voting. In case of mismatch between photo in EPIC, the elector can vote by producing any of the 11 alternative documents specified by EC.