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PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS SECRETARIAT (ELECTIONS )

NOTIFICATION

No. DPAR 39 CHUVISA 2026, Bengaluru, Dated: 17^th March 2026.

The following Order No. 3/4/ID/2026/SDR/VOL.I, dated: 15^th March, 2026 of the Election

Commission of India is published hereunder for general information :-

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001

No.3/4/ID/2026/SDR/VOL.I

Dated: 15^th March, 2026

ORDER

Whereas, Section 61 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides that with a view

to preventing personation of electors, so as to make the right of genuine electors to vote under section

62 of that Act more effective, provisions may be made by rules under that Act for use of Electors

Photo Identity Card for electors as the means of establishing their identity at the time of polling; and

2.

Whereas, Rule 28 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, empowers the Election

Commission to direct, with a view to preventing personation of electors and facilitating their

identification at the time of poll, issue of Electors’ Photo Identity Card to electors bearing their

photographs at State cost; and

3.

Whereas, Rules 49H (3) and 49K (2) (b) of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, stipulate

that where the electors of a constituency have been supplied with Electors’ Photo Identity Card under

the said provisions of Rule 28 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the electors shall produce

their Elector Photo Identity Card at the polling station and failure or refusal on their part to produce

those Elector Photo Identity Card may result in the denial of permission to vote; and

4.

Whereas, a combined and harmonious reading of the aforesaid provisions of the said Act and

the Rules, makes it clear that although the right to vote arises by the existence of the name in the

electoral roll, it is also dependent upon the use of the Elector Photo Identity Card, where provided by

the Election Commission at State cost, as the means of establishing their identity at the time of polling

and that both are to be used together; and

¨sÁUÀ – 4

Part – IV

, 17

, 2026

, 26

)

BENGALURU, TUESDAY, 17, MARCH, 2026(PHALGUNA, 26, SHAKAVARSHA, 1947)

. 214

No. 214

2

5.

Whereas, the Election Commission made an Order on the 28^th August, 1993, directing the

issue of Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to all electors, according to a time bound programme;

and

6. Whereas, Electors’ Photo Identity Card have been issued to approximately 100% electors in

the States of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka,

Nagaland, Tripura and Gujarat; and

7. Now, therefore, after taking into account all relevant factors and the legal and factual positions, the

Election Commission hereby directs that for the current general election to the Legislative Assemblies of

Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and bye-electionsto 8 Assembly constituencies

in6 States(as per Annexure-I) to be notified on 16.03.2026, 30.03.2026 and 02.04.2026,allelectors who have

been issued EPIC are expected to produce the EPIC for their identification at the polling stations before

casting their votes. Those electors who are not able to produce the EPIC shall produce one of the following

alternative photo identity documents for establishing their identity: -

(i) Aadhaar Card;

(ii) MGNREGA Job Card;

(iii) Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office;

(iv) Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour/Ayushman

Bharat Health Card;

(v) Driving License;

(vi) PAN Card;

(vii) Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR;

(viii) Indian Passport;

(ix) Pension document with photograph;

(x) Service

Identity

Cards

with

photograph

issued

to

employees

by

Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies;

(xi) Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and

(xii) Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government

of India

8.

In the case of EPIC, clerical errors, spelling mistakes, etc. should be ignored provided that the

identity of the elector can be established by the EPIC. If an elector produces an EPIC which has been

issued by the Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly Constituency, such EPIC shall also

be accepted for identification provided that the name of that elector finds place in the electoral roll

pertaining to the polling station where the elector has turned up for voting. If it is not possible to

establish the identity of the elector on account of mismatch of photograph, etc. the elector shall have

to produce one of the alternative photo documents mentioned in Para 7 above.

3

9.

Notwithstanding anything in Para 7 above, 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 on the basis of their original passport only (and

no other identity document) at the polling station.

By Order,

(S.B.JOSHI)

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

(MADHU A.C )

Under Secretary to Government

D.P.A.R (Elections)

Annexure-I

Sl.

No.

Name of the State

Number and Name of the AC

1.

Maharashtra

223-Rahuri AC

2.

201-Baramati AC

3.

Goa

21-Ponda AC

4.

Karnataka

24-Bagalkot AC

5.

107-Davanagere South AC

6.

Nagaland

28-Koridang(ST) AC

7.

Tripura

56-Dharmanagar AC

8.

Gujarat

111-Umreth AC

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Date: 2026.03.17 17:19:03 +05'30'