Reg. No. RNP/GOA/32/2021-23
RNI No. GOAENG/2002/6410
Panaji, 25th January, 2022 (Magha 05, 1943) SERIES II No. 43 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
EXTRAORDINARY
No. 5
GOVERNMENT OF GOA
Department of Elections
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
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Order
No. 5-10-2022/ELEC/2685
The following Order No. 3/4/ID/2022/SDR/VOL.I dated 20th January, 2022, issued by the Election Commission of India, New Delhi, is hereby published for general information.
Place: Panaji-Goa. Narayan Sawant,
Dated:- 24-01-2022. Additional Chief Electoral Officer.
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ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001.
Order
No. 3/4/ID/2022/SDR/VOL.I
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 OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES II No. 43 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 5) 25TH JANUARY, 2022 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 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 Card have been issued to approximate 100% electors in the States of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
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 Goa and Uttarakhand to be notified on 21-01-2022, Punjab to be notified on 25-01-2022, Manipur to be notified on 01-02-2022 & 04-02-2022, Uttar Pradesh notified/to be notified on 14-01-2022, 21-01-2022, 25-01-2022, 27-01-2022, 01-02-2022, 04-02-2022 & 10-02-2022, all electors who have been issued EPIC shall produce the EPIC for 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 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) Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs.
(xii) Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment,
Government of India.
OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES II No. 43 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 5) 25TH JANUARY, 20228. 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,
(Ashwani Kumar Mohal)
Secretary.
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