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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-08092026-276065
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 34]
NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026/BHADRA 17, 1948
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
ORDER
New Delhi, the 8th September, 2026
O.N. 34(E).— Whereas, Section 61 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides that with a view to
preventing personation of electors, so as to make the right of genuine electors to vote under section 62 of that Act more
effective, provisions may be made by rules under that Act for use of Electors Photo Identity Card for electors as the
means of establishing their identity at the time of polling; and
2.
Whereas, Rule 28 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, empowers the Election Commission to direct,
with a view to preventing personation of electors and facilitating their identification at the time of poll, issue of Electors'
Photo Identity Card to electors bearing their photographs at State cost; and
3.
Whereas, Rules 49H (3) and 49K (2) (b) of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, stipulate that where the
electors of a constituency have been supplied with Electors' Photo Identity Card under the said provisions of Rule 28
of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the electors shall produce their Elector Photo Identity Card at the polling
station and failure or refusal on their part to produce those Elector Photo Identity Card may result in the denial of
permission to vote; and
4.
Whereas, a combined and harmonious reading of the aforesaid provisions of the said Act and the Rules, makes
it clear that although the right to vote arises by the existence of the name in the electoral roll, it is also dependent upon
the use of the Elector Photo Identity Card, where provided by the Election Commission at State cost, as the means of
establishing their identity at the time of polling and that both are to be used together; and
5.
Whereas, the Election Commission made an Order on the 28th August, 1993, directing the issue of Electors'
Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to all electors, according to a time bound programme; and
6.
Whereas, Electors' Photo Identity Card have been issued to approximately 100% electors in the States of Tamil
Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Assam; and
7.
Now, therefore, after taking into account all relevant factors and the legal and factual positions, the Election
Commission hereby directs that for the current bye-elections to the 35-Madurantakam (SC) and 101-Dharapuram
(SC) Assembly Constituencies in Tamil Nadu, 09-Thattanchavady Assembly Constituency in Puducherry, 70-
Rejinagar and 210-Nandigram Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal and 09-Nagaon Parliamentary
Constituency in Assam to be notified on 09th September, 2026, all electors who have been issued EPIC are expected
to produce the EPIC for their identification at the polling stations before casting their votes. Those electors who are not
able to produce the EPIC shall produce one of the following alternative photo identity documents for establishing their
identity: -
i.
Aadhaar Card;
ii.
MGNREGA Job Card;
iii.
Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office;
iv.
Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour/Ayushman Bharat
Health Card;
v.
Driving License;
vi.
PAN Card;
vii.
Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR;
viii. Indian Passport;
ix.
Pension document with photograph;
x.
Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public
Limited Companies;
xi.
Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and
xii.
Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India
8. In the case of EPIC, clerical errors, spelling mistakes, etc. should be ignored provided that 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
that 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 in Para 7 above.
9.
Notwithstanding anything in Para 7 above, 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) at the polling station.
[F. No. 3/4/ID/2026/SDR/VOL.II]
By Order,
S.B.JOSHI, Principal Secy.
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