Keeping in view the forthcoming parliamentary polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has allowed use of alternative identity card for the voters to cast their votes.
Divulging the details, Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer Jalandhar Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal said that those who were not having the elector’s photo identity card (EPIC, also called voter ID card) could exercise their franchise using alternative documents including Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence or service ID cards (with photograph) issued by central or state governments or public sector undertakings and public limited companies, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, and official ID cards issued to Member Parliaments, MLAs and MLCs.
He said that the election commission has also allowed bank or post office passbooks with photographs, PAN card, MGNREGA job card, health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of ministry of labour, pension documents with photographs, unique disability ID Cards can be used as identity proof. Any one of above mentioned ID proofs could be used along with voter information slip to be able to cast the vote. The Deputy Commissioner also appealed to use their right to franchise on poll day i.e. June 1, 2024. The polling will be held between 7am to 6pm across all 1951 polling booths, he said. He also appealed to voter to cast their votes judiciously as ethical voting is the very basis of our democracy.