JALANDHAR
Considering the forthcoming Jalandhar West Assembly by-polls on July 10, 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has allowed the use of alternative identity cards for the voters to cast their votes.
Divulging the details, Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer Jalandhar Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal said that those who were not having the elector’s photo identity card (EPIC, also called voter ID card) could exercise their franchise using alternative documents including an Aadhaar card, passport, driving license or service ID cards (with the photograph) issued by central or state governments or public sector undertakings and public limited companies, the smart card issued by RGI under NPR, and official ID cards issued to Member Parliaments, MLAs and MLCs.
He said that the election commission has also allowed bank or post office passbooks with photographs, PAN cards, MGNREGA job cards, health insurance smart cards issued under the scheme of the Ministry of Labour, and pension documents with photographs can be used as identity proof. Any one of the above-mentioned ID proofs could be used along with a voter information slip to be able to cast the vote. The Deputy Commissioner also appealed to use their right to franchise on poll day i.e. July 10, 2024. He said the polling will be held between 7 am to 6 pm across all 181 polling booths.