EC clarifies on photo identity cards

Chandigarh, Feb 7 (UNI) The Election Commission has made it clear that all voters will have to bring election photo identity cards (EPICs), for voting in the February 13 Punjab assembly elections and byelection to the Amritsar Parliamentary Constituency.

The Election Commission has, however, permitted the electors who have not been issued EPICs to vote, provided their identity otherwise established by the production of any of the alternative documents such as passports, driving licenses, Income Tax identity (PAN) cards, service identity cards with photograph issued to its employees by state or central government, public sector undertakings or public limited companies, passbooks issued by public sector banks or post office and kisan passbooks (accounts opened on or before 31-12-2006).

Property documents such as pattas, register deeds, ration cards issued on or before 31-12-2006 with photograph, SC,ST and OBC certificates issued by competent authority on or before 31-12-2006, pension documents such as ex-servicemen's pension book or pension payment order, ex-servicemen's widow or dependent certificates, old age pension order, widow pension order, freedom fighter identity cards, arms licenses issued on or before 31-12-2006, certificate of physical handicap by competent authority issued on or before 31-12-2006, Air Force, Navy, Army personnel identification cards with photographs.

The Election Commission has further clarified that any document, as enumerated above, which is available only for the head of family, would be allowed for the purpose of identification of other members of the family provided the other members could be identified on the basis of such document.

UNI