Election I-cards mandatory for casting vote

Jaipur, Oct 18 (UNI) With the Election Commission (EC) making elector photo identity cards mandatory for casting vote in the upcoming Assembly elections, about 15 per cent of the 3.62 crore voters in Rajasthan might not be able to exercise their franchise in December four polls.

Despite constant efforts by the state election department to issue identity cards, only 85 per cent of the eligible voters have so far given the cards, an official spokesman said here.

In a bid to provide the cards to every eligible voter, the department had undertaken three-phase campaign for updating the photo electoral rolls and issue the photo I-cards since January this year.

The campaign yielded good results with around 50 lakh voters getting the cards, the spokesman added.

This is for the first time that the photo I-cards have been made compulsory for casting votes in the Assembly elections.

Till previous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the voters were allowed to cast votes by establishing their identity through Election I-card, passport, driving license or even ration card but from now onwards only the elector photo identity card would be a identity proof at the polling booths, the spokesman said.

''Therefore, voters should ensure to get their I-cards as the process for issuance of the same was on,'' he added.

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