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Part – IV BENGALURU, TUESDAY, 17, MARCH, 2026(PHALGUNA, 26, SHAKAVARSHA, 1947) No. 214
PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS SECRETARIAT (ELECTIONS )
NOTIFICATION
No. DPAR 39 CHUVISA 2026, Bengaluru, Dated: 17th March 2026.
The following Order No. 3/4/ID/2026/SDR/VOL.I, dated: 15th March, 2026 of the Election
Commission of India is published hereunder for general information :-
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001
No.3/4/ID/2026/SDR/VOL.I Dated: 15th March, 2026
ORDER
Whereas, Section 61 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides that with a view
to preventing personation of electors, so as to make the right of genuine electors to vote under section
62 of that Act more effective, provisions may be made by rules under that Act for use of Electors
Photo Identity Card for electors as the means of establishing their identity at the time of polling; and
2. Whereas, Rule 28 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, empowers the Election
Commission to direct, with a view to preventing personation of electors and facilitating their
identification at the time of poll, issue of Electors’ Photo Identity Card to electors bearing their
photographs at State cost; and
3. Whereas, Rules 49H (3) and 49K (2) (b) of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, stipulate
that where the electors of a constituency have been supplied with Electors’ Photo Identity Card under
the said provisions of Rule 28 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the electors shall produce
their Elector Photo Identity Card at the polling station and failure or refusal on their part to produce
those Elector Photo Identity Card may result in the denial of permission to vote; and
4. Whereas, a combined and harmonious reading of the aforesaid provisions of the said Act and
the Rules, makes it clear that although the right to vote arises by the existence of the name in the
electoral roll, it is also dependent upon the use of the Elector Photo Identity Card, where provided by
the Election Commission at State cost, as the means of establishing their identity at the time of polling
and that both are to be used together; and
(1)2
5. Whereas, the Election Commission made an Order on the 28th August, 1993, directing the
issue of Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to all electors, according to a time bound programme;
and
6. Whereas, Electors’ Photo Identity Card have been issued to approximately 100% electors in
the States of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka,
Nagaland, Tripura and Gujarat; and
7. Now, therefore, after taking into account all relevant factors and the legal and factual positions, the
Election Commission hereby directs that for the current general election to the Legislative Assemblies of
Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and bye-electionsto 8 Assembly constituencies
in6 States(as per Annexure-I) to be notified on 16.03.2026, 30.03.2026 and 02.04.2026,allelectors who have
been issued EPIC are expected to produce the EPIC for their identification at the polling stations before
casting their votes. Those electors who are not able to produce the EPIC shall produce one of the following
alternative photo identity documents for establishing their identity: -
(i) Aadhaar Card;
(ii) MGNREGA Job Card;
(iii) Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office;
(iv) Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour/Ayushman
Bharat Health Card;
(v) Driving License;
(vi) PAN Card;
(vii) Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR;
(viii) Indian Passport;
(ix) Pension document with photograph;
(x) Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by
Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies;
(xi) Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and
(xii) Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government
of India
8. In the case of EPIC, clerical errors, spelling mistakes, etc. should be ignored provided that the
identity of the elector can be established by the EPIC. If an elector produces an EPIC which has been
issued by the Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly Constituency, such EPIC shall also
be accepted for identification provided that the name of that elector finds place in the electoral roll
pertaining to the polling station where the elector has turned up for voting. If it is not possible to
establish the identity of the elector on account of mismatch of photograph, etc. the elector shall have
to produce one of the alternative photo documents mentioned in Para 7 above.R.N.I. No. KARBIL/2001/47147 POSTAL REGN. No. RNP/KA/BGS/2202/2017-19
Licensed to post without prepayment WPP No. 297
3
9. Notwithstanding anything in Para 7 above, overseas electors who are registered in the
electoral roll under Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, based on the
particulars in their Indian Passport, shall be identified on the basis of their original passport only (and
no other identity document) at the polling station.
By Order,
(S.B.JOSHI)
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
(MADHU A.C )
Under Secretary to Government
D.P.A.R (Elections)
Annexure-I
Sl.
Name of the State Number and Name of the AC
No.
1. 223-Rahuri AC
Maharashtra
2. 201-Baramati AC
3. Goa 21-Ponda AC
4. 24-Bagalkot AC
Karnataka
5. 107-Davanagere South AC
6. Nagaland 28-Koridang(ST) AC
7. Tripura 56-Dharmanagar AC
8. Gujarat 111-Umreth AC
[
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