Jaipur/Hyderabad: The Electoral Photograph Identity Document (EPID) released by the Election Committee is the primary identification credential that individuals require for exercising their voting privileges. Indeed, the 10-digit figure of the EPID functions as a distinct identification for electors. Consequently, to cast their ballots, citizens must possess their valid voter identifications.
Nevertheless, occasionally, individuals misplace or lose their voter identification cards or do not possess a physical duplicate of the card. Occasionally, new electors, who have their names enrolled on the electoral roll, may not receive their voter identification card with an image punctually. Nevertheless, all these citizens can also cast their votes.
Per the Election Committee of India directives, all individuals listed in the voter registry are entitled to partake in the democratic procedure, regardless of whether they own their voter identification cards or not.
How to cast a vote sans a voter identification card:
Voters must initially confirm that their names are included in the voter registry. Once they locate their names in the registry, they can exercise their voting rights even in the absence of a physical copy of the voter identification card.
Procedures to verify whether your name is in the electoral registry:
Navigate to the Election Committee’s website (https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/) on your mobile device or laptop. You will encounter three options for searching your name. Firstly, by particulars where you must provide your name, surname, date of birth, district, constituency, and others. Secondly, by searching through your EPID number, and thirdly, by searching via the mobile number registered with your voter identification. Once your name is visible on the electoral registry, you can be assured of your eligibility to vote.
A straightforward method to obtain a duplicate of your voter identification card promptly:
If you lack a physical voter identification card but desire to exercise your voting rights solely with this document, the Election Committee has introduced another option for citizens. The EC provides an e-EPID facility through which citizens can procure a digital duplicate of their voter identification card in PDF format and store it on Digilocker or their mobile device. Initially, one must register by visiting https://voters.eci.gov.in/login. A printout of the digital duplicate of their voter card can be obtained and carried to the polling station.
Alternate credentials:
Individuals who are not particularly comfortable with availing e-EPID services can carry any of the government-approved credentials. There exist a total of 12 credentials accepted as substitutes for the physical copy of the voter identification card. These include:
Jaipur District Election Officer Prakash Rajpurohit affirmed that measures are being taken to enable voters to exercise their franchise effortlessly on polling day. Voters lacking voter identification cards can carry any one of the 12 alternative photographic identity credentials.
Deputy Director of Information and Technology Department, Ritesh Kumar Sharma expressed that voters frequently encounter issues due to the absence of voter identification cards. “Voters should comprehend that even if they lack the required voter identification card, they are eligible to vote. Provisions have been made by the Election Committee to ensure that such citizens can vote by presenting any of the 12 photographic identity credentials. New voters will reap the most benefits because although their names are added to the electoral registry, their voter identification card is not issued to them in a timely manner,” Sharma articulated.
