Punjab Elections 2022: Here are documents for identification proof to cast vote
Chandigarh, February 15: People in Punjab will cast their vote to elect 117-assembly on February 20. Even though the Election Commission of India had earlier directed voters to produce their Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to establish their identity in order to exercise their franchise, those who do not have EPICs need not worry.
The ECI has released a list of 12 alternative documents that can be used as an identity proof to cast vote in Punjab assembly elections.
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr S Karuna Raju has said eligible citizens who do not have an elector’s photo identity card (EPIC), also called voter ID card, can exercise their franchise using alternative documents including like Aadhaar card, MGNREGA job card and Bank or Post office passbooks with photographs among others.
Besides these, the list mentions other documents like Health insurance smart cards issued under the scheme of the ministry of labour, driving license, PAN card, Smart card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension documents with photograph, service ID cards (with the 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.
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The poll officer further added that in the case of EPIC, clerical errors and spelling mistakes, etc. should be ignored provided the identity of the elector can be established by the voter card.
If the voter produces an EPIC that 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 voter appears in the electoral roll of the polling station where they have turned up for voting.
In case, it is not possible to establish the identity of the elector on account of mismatch of the photograph, they have to produce one of the alternative photo documents mentioned in the list of alternative list of ID proof.
"In the polling station, 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 solely by their original passport (and no other identity document)," stated the electoral officer.
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-PTC News
