Chandigarh, February 15:
Electors of state will be able to cast their vote with 12 alternative identity proofs besides Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) during the polls in Punjab on February 20 2022.
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr. S Karuna Raju said those not having the elector’s photo identity card (EPIC, also called voter ID card) can exercise their franchise using alternative documents including Aadhaar card, MGNREGA job card, Bank or Post office passbooks with photographs, Health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of ministry of labour, driving license, PAN card, Smart card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension documents with photograph, service ID cards (with photograph) issued by central or state governments or public sector undertakings/Public limited Companies, official identity card issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and Unique Disability ID (UDID) issued by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Government of India. These total 12 documents to be used as identity proof.
He further said that in the case of EPIC , clerical errors , spelling mistakes , etc. should be ignored provided the identity of the elector can be established by the EPIC . If an elector produces an EPIC which has been issued by the Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly Constituency , such EPIC shall also 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 . 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 as in the list of alternative list of ID proof.
“Overseas electors who are registered in the electoral roll under Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act . 1950 , based on the particulars in their Indian Passport , shall be identified on the basis of their original passport only ( and no other identity document ) in the polling station. ” He said.
