Panaji: In a move aimed at ensuring greater voter participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has widened the list of acceptable identity documents for electors during the upcoming Ponda bypoll.
Officials said that health insurance smart cards, such as those issued under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and the Unique Disability ID (UDID) card will be accepted as valid proof of identity for voting.
While the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) will continue to remain the primary document for casting votes, the Commission has clarified that voters who are unable to produce the EPIC at polling stations will be allowed to use a range of alternative documents.
Apart from these, electors can present Aadhaar cards, MGNREGA job cards, bank or post office passbooks with photographs, driving licences, PAN cards, passports, pension documents with photographs, and service identity cards issued by government departments, PSUs or public limited companies. Identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs and MLCs, as well as smart cards under the National Population Register (NPR), will also be accepted.
