Electors on the Voter List can display any one of 12 alternative Photo IDs apart from EPIC to vote
By PIB Delhi
- Election Commission India (ECI) is empowered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, read with the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to direct that the Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) be issued to electors to facilitate their identification and prevent impersonation at the Polling Station.
- EPICs have been issued to nearly 100% of the electors in Bihar and in the 8 Assembly Constituencies going to bye-elections. The Commission had also issued directions to all CEOs to ensure the delivery of EPICs to the new voters within 15 days of the final publication of the Electoral Rolls.
- Further, for the convenience of voters whose names are on the electoral rolls but are unable to produce the EPIC for their identification, ECI has issued a notification on October 7, 2025, permitting such electors to produce any one of the following 12 alternative photo identity documents:
- Aadhaar Card
- MNREGA Job Card
- Passbooks with a photograph issued by the Bank/Post Office
- Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of the Ministry of Labour/ Ayushman Bharat Health Card
- Driving License
- PAN Card
- Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR
- Indian Passport
- Pension document with a photograph
- Service Identity Cards with a photograph issued to employees by the Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies
- Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and
- Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card issued by the M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India
- It may be reiterated that the presence of a name on the Electoral Roll is a prerequisite to be able to vote on polling day.
- To encourage participation of ‘purdanasheen’ (in burqa or purdah) women, special arrangements shall be made at the Polling Stations as per extant instructions for their dignified identification in the presence of lady Polling Officers/Attendants while ensuring their privacy.
