THE TELANGANA GAZETTE
PART-V EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 19 ] HYDERABAD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018.
STATUTORY NOTIFICATIONS OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF
INDIA AND OTHER ELECTION NOTIFICATIONS
–––x–––
NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, TELANGANA
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA ORDER REGARDING IDENTIFICATION OF ELECTORS IN POLLING STATIONS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTIONS TO THE TELANGANA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2018.
[Memo. No.6043/Elecs.D/2018-1, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana, Dated: 4th December, 2018.]
The following Notification of the Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi -110001, Dated: 1st November, 2018 is Published:-
ORDER
Subject:- General election to the Legislative Assemblies of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,Mizoram & Telangana - Identification of electors in Polling stations.
No. 3/4/ID/ECI/LET/FUNC/JUD/SDR/VOL.II/2018:- 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 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
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 Cards may result in the denial of permission to vote;and
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 2 TELANGANA GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY [Part V 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 Whereas, the Election Commission made an Order on the 28th August, 1993, under Rule 28 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 directing the issue of Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to all electors, according to a time bound programme; and
Whereas, Electors Photo Identity Card have been issued to a substantially large number of electors in the States of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajathan, Mizoram & Telangana; and
whereas, in addition, the Commission has directed that 'Authenticated Photo Voters Slips' shall be distributed by the election authorities to the electors well before the date of poll.
Now, therefore, after taking into account all relevant factors and the legal and factual position, the Election Commission hereby directs that for current general elections to the States Legislative Assemblies of Chhattisgarh notified on 16.10.2018 & 26.10.2018, Madhya Pradesh scheduled to be notified on 02.11.2018, Rajasthan scheduled to be notified on 12.11.2018, Mizoram scheduled to be notified on 02.11.2018 & Telangana scheduled to be notified on 12.11.2018, all electors who have been issued EPICs shall produce their EPICs for their indentification at the polling station before casting their votes. Those electors who are not able to produce the EPIC shall have to produce one of the following alternative photo identity documents for establishing their identity:-
(i) Passport; (ii) Driving License; (iii) Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt. PSUs/ Public Limited Companies;
(iv) Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office; (v) PAN Card; (vi) Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR; (vii) MNREGA Job Card; (viii) Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour; (ix) Pension document with photograph, (x) Authenticated Photo Voter Slip issued by the election machinery; (xi) Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs; and (xii) Aadhaar Card.
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 Officer of another Assembly Constituency, such EPICs 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 8 above.
Notwithstanding anything in Para 8 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 identified on the basis of their original passport only (and no other identity document) in the polling station.
By Order,
K.F. WILFRED, Sr. Pr. Secretary, Election Commission of India.
Dr. RAJAT KUMAR, Chief Electoral Officer, E.O. & Prl. Secretary to Government.