Goa voters can use alternate identity documents: EC

New Delhi: The Election Commission today decided to permit electors in Goa to cast their vote in the 3 March assembly polls after identifying themselves through alternative photo documents if they cannot produce the Voters’ ID card. The Commission allowed the use of alternative photo documents for identification of those electors whose photos are not printed in the electoral roll and in the Authenticated Photo Voters Slip issued by the election authorities.[caption id=“attachment_231080” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Ensuring mass voting. Reuters”]  [/caption] This order, however, applies only to those electors whose photographs are not available in the electoral roll or whose photo is not legible. The EC order also comes to the aid of many voters whose images on their photos I-cards are corrupt. Among the various documents to be used for identification of voters, the EC has allowed the use of passport, driving license, Income Tax Identity (PAN) Card, service identity cards having photograph, issued to its employees by state/Central Government, PSUs, local bodies or Public Limited Companies, passbook with photograph issued by public sector banks/post office and Kisan Passbook (Accounts opened on or before 31 December 2011). Besides, SC/ST/OBC certificate issued by competent authority with photograph issued on or before 31 December 2011, Pension Documents such as ex-servicemen’s pension book/pension payment order, ex-servicemen’s widow/dependent certificates, old age pension order, widow pension order with photograph, freedom fighter identity card with photograph and arms licenses with photograph, can also be used for identification of such voters. Certificate of physical handicap with photograph issued by the competent authority, health insurance scheme smart card with photograph (Ministry of Labour’s Scheme), property document with photograph such as pattas, registered deeds, etc. and job cards with photograph under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme issued can also be used for voter identification during voting, the EC order states. All such documents used for identification have to be issued on or before 31 December 2011. With this order, the Commission has also modified its earlier order issued on 8 February 2012 in this regard. PTI