Chief Electoral Officer, Himachal Pradesh C. Paulrasu has appealed the Voters of Mandi Parliamentary Constituency and Fatehpur, Arki and Jubbal-Kotkhai Assembly Constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, to produce Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) or 11 alternative photo documents determined by Election Commission of India for bye-elections to be held on 30 October, 2021. He said that as per the direction of Election Commission of India, all voters have to present their voter identity card while using their right to vote at voting centers during bye-election. In case any voter is unable to present the identity proof, such voters can present alternative photo ID. Aadhar card, MNREGA job card, passbook with photograph issued by Bank or post office, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, Driving License, Pan card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension document with photograph, Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central, State Government, PSUs, Public Limited Companies and Official Identity Cards issued to MPs, MLAs and MLCs are alternative photo documents that can be used for establishing the identity. He further said that incase of EPIC, clerical errors, spelling mistakes, etc. would be ignored provided the identity of electoral is 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 if the name of that elector is in the electoral roll of the polling station where the elector has turned up for voting. Incase the identity of elector is unable to establish on account of mismatch of photograph, etc. the elector shall have produce one of the alternative photo documents. He said that overseas electors registered in the electoral rolls under Section 20A of the representation of the People Act, 1950, based on the particulars in their passport would be identified on the bases of their original passport only and no other identity document in the polling station.
