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GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY

ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT

No.E.1-10(3)/2019-Vol.II.

Puducherry, the 7th March 2021.

The Election Commission of India, New Delhi, Order No. 3/4/ID/2021/

SDR/Vol.I, dated 05-03-2021 under section 61 of the Representation of the

People Act, 1951, regarding for use of Elector’s Photo Identity Card for electors

as the means of establishing their identity at the time of polling, is republished

for information of the public.

SHURBIR SINGH, I.A.S.,

Chief Electoral Officer.

Registered with the Registrar

of Newspapers for India

under No. 10410

Registered No. PY/44/2021-23

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318

LA GAZETTE DE L’ETAT

[ PART-I

318

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

No.3/4/1D/2021/SDR/Vol.-I.

Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road,

New Delhi-110 001.

Dated 5th March, 2021.

ORDER

1. Whereas, Section 61 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,

provides that with a view to preventing impersonation 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 impersonation of

electors and facilitating their identification at the time of poll, the 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 Electors Photo

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

those Electors 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’s 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

5. Whereas, the Election Commission made an Order on the 28th 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 approximate

100% electors in the State of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and

Puducherry; and

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

and factual position, the Election Commission hereby directs that for the General

Elections to the State Legislative Assemblies of Assam notified/to be notified on

02-03-2021, 05-03-2021 and 12-03- 2021, of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

to be notified on 12-03-2021 and of West Bengal notified/to be notified

on 02-03-2021, 05-03-2021, 12-03-2021, 16-03-2021, 23-03-2021, 26-03-2021 and

31-03-2021, all electors who have been issued EPIC shall produce the EPIC for

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online publication at “https://styandptg.py.gov.in”

Published by the Director, Government Press, Puducherry.

their identification at the polling station 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)

MNREGA Job Card,

(iii)

Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office,

(iv)

Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the Scheme of Ministry

of Labour,

(v)

Driving Licence,

(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 Government/PSUs/Public Limited Companies, and

(xi)

Official Identity Cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs.

8. In the case of EPIC, clerical errors, spelling mistakes, etc., should be

ignored provided 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 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.

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) in the

polling station.

(By order)

N.T. BHUTIA,

Secretary.

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