Use of EPIC for electors their identity at the time of polling

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-22102024-258131 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 182] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2024/ASVINA 30, 1946 ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA ORDER New Delhi, the 17th, October 2024 O. N. 193(E).—1. 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 Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and the constituencies going for bye elections in the State of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal; and 7. Now, therefore, after taking into account all relevant factors and the legal and factual position, the Election Commission hereby directs that for the current general and bye elections (as per Annexure-1) to- - the Legislative Assembly of Jharkhand, to be notified on 18.10.2024 & 22.10.2024, and - the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra, to be notified on 22.10.2024, and bye elections (as per Annexure-1) to -47 Assembly Constituencies & 04-Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency in Kerala, to be notified on 18.10.2024 and -07-Kedarnath Assembly Constituency in Uttarakhand & 16-Nanded Parliamentary Constituency in Maharashtra to be notified on 22.10.2024 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) MNREGA Job Card, (iii) Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office, (iv) Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, (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 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. [No.3/4/ID/2024/SDR/VOL.I] By Order, S.B.JOSHI, Principal Secy. Annexure-1 +------+-----------------+-------------------------------------------------------+ | SI. | Name of State | Assembly Constituency No./Parliamentary | | No. | | Constituency No. & Name | +======+=================+=======================================================+ | 1. | Assam | 11-Dholai(SC) AC | | 2. | | 31-Sidli(ST) AC | | 3. | | 32-Bongaigaon AC | | 4. | | 77-Behali AC | | 5. | | 88-Samaguri AC | | 6. | Bihar | 196-Tarari AC | | 7. | | 203-Ramgarh AC | | 8. | | 227-Imamganj(SC) AC | | 9. | | 232-Belaganj AC | | 10. | Chhattisgarh | 51-Raipur City South AC | | 11. | Gujarat | 7-Vav AC | | 12. | Karnataka | 83-Shiggaon AC | | 13. | | 95-Sandur(ST) AC | | 14. | | 185-Channapatna AC | | 15. | Kerala | 56-Palakkad AC | | 16. | | 61-Chelakkara(SC) AC | | 17. | | 4-Wayanad PC | | 18. | Madhya Pradesh | 156-Budhni AC | | 19. | | 02-Vijaypur AC | | 20. | Maharashtra | 16-Nanded PC | | 21. | Meghalaya | 56-Gambegre(ST) AC | | 22. | Punjab | 10-Dera Baba Nanak AC | | 23. | | 44-Chabbewal(SC) AC | | 24. | | 84-Gidderbaha AC | | 25. | | 103-Barnala AC | | 26. | Rajasthan | 27-Jhunjhunu AC | | 27. | | 67-Ramgarh AC | | 28. | | 88-Dausa AC | | 29. | | 97-Deoli-Uniara AC | | 30. | | 110-Khinwsar AC | | 31. | | 156-Salumber(ST) AC | | 32. | | 161-Chorasi(ST) AC | | 33. | Sikkim | 07-Soreng-Chakung AC | | 34. | | 11-Namchi-Singhithang AC | | 35. | Uttar Pradesh | 16-Meerapur AC | | 36. | | 29-Kundarki AC | | 37. | | 56-Ghaziabad AC | | 38. | | 71-Khair(SC) AC | | 39. | | 110-Karhal AC | | 40. | | 213-Sishamau AC | | 41. | | 256-Phulpur AC | | 42. | | 277-Katehari AC | | 43. | | 397-Majhawan AC | | 44. | Uttarakhand | 07-Kedarnath AC | | 45. | West Bengal | 06-Sitai(SC) AC | | 46. | | 14-Madarihat(ST) AC | | 47. | | 104-Naihati AC | | 48. | | 121-Haroa AC | | 49. | | 236-Medinipur AC | | 50. | | 251-Taldangra AC | +------+-----------------+-------------------------------------------------------+