TAMIL NADU

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE

EXTRAORDINARY

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

©

[Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14

GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.

2021

[Price: Re.0.80 Paise.

No. 157]

CHENNAI, TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

Maasi 25, Saarvari, Thiruvalluvar Aandu–2052

V-4 Ex. (157)

Part V—Section 4

Notifi cations by the Election Commission of India

[ 1 ]

NOTIFICATION BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

ORDER OF ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA REGARDING IDENTIFICATION OF ELECTORS DURING THE

GENERAL ELECTIONS TO TAMIL NADU LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2021 TO BE HELD ON 6TH APRIL 2021.

No. SRO G -14/2021.—

The following Election Commission of India’s Order No.3/4/ID/2021/SDR/VOL.I dated 05.03.2021 is republished:-

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 eff ective, 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 identifi cation 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 Electors 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 Cards have been issued to approximate 100% electors in the State of Assam, Kerala,

Tamil Nadu, West Bengal & 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 State Legislative Assemblies of Assam notifi ed/to be notifi ed on 02.03.2021, 05.03.2021 & 12.03.2021,

of Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry to be notifi ed on 12.03.2021 and of West Bengal notifi ed/to be notifi ed on 02.03.2021,

05.03.2021, 12.03.2021, 16.03.2021, 23.03.2021, 26.03.2021 & 31.03.2021, all electors who have been issued EPIC shall

produce the EPIC for their identifi cation 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:-

2

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(i)

Aadhaar Card

(ii)

MNREGA Job Card

(iii)

Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/ Post Offi ce

(iv)

Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour

(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; and

(xi)

Offi cial 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 Electors Photo Identity Card, which has been issued by the

Electoral Registration Offi cer of another Assembly Constituency, such EPICs shall also be accepted for identifi cation provided

the name of that elector fi nds 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 rolls under Section

20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, based on the particulars in their Passport, shall be identifi ed on the basis

of their original passport only (and no other identity document) in the polling station.

(By Order)

N.T. Bඐඝගඑඉ,

Secretary,

Election Commission of India.

Secretariat,

SATYABRATA SAHOO,

Chennai-600 009,

Chief Electoral Offi cer and

9th March, 2021.

Principal Secretary to Government.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF STATIONERY AND PRINTING, CHENNAI

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU