The Election Commission of India has announced that voters in the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled for November 20, can present any one of 12 approved identification documents for casting their vote. This move provides flexibility for voters who may not possess their voter ID cards, as long as their names are included in the official voters’ list.
According to the Chief Election Officer’s office, besides the voter ID card, acceptable IDs include Aadhaar cards, MGNREGA-issued employment cards, bank or postal department-issued passbooks with a photograph, health insurance smart cards, driving licenses, PAN cards, passports, pay slips or retirement documents, photo IDs from Central or State Governments, IDs from Public Sector Undertakings or Public Limited Companies, identification issued to Parliament or Legislative members, and special IDs for persons with disabilities issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
For NRIs, a passport is required as proof of identity. Additionally, voters who have recently changed addresses but have not updated their ID cards can still vote by presenting their old ID, provided their current address appears on the voters’ list.
The election office will distribute polling slips to voters at least five days before the election date. These slips will contain information on polling centers, list numbers, polling dates, and timings to ensure a smooth voting experience.