The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on October 10, 2025, that electors on the voter list can display one of twelve alternative photo IDs apart from the Elector's Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to vote. This is according to the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which authorizes ECI to direct the issuance of EPICs to facilitate voter identification and prevent impersonation. While EPICs have been issued to nearly 100% of electors in Bihar and the 8 Assembly Constituencies going to bye-elections, and the Commission has directed CEOs to ensure EPIC delivery to new voters within 15 days of final electoral roll publication, the notification on October 7, 2025, allows electors who can't produce the EPIC to use alternative photo IDs. These include: Aadhaar Card, MNREGA Job Card, Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office, Health Insurance Smart Card, Driving License, PAN Card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension document with photograph, Service Identity Cards, Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, and Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card. The announcement also reiterated that being on the Electoral Roll is a prerequisite to voting. Special arrangements will be made at polling stations to encourage participation of women in purdah in the presence of lady polling officers while ensuring their privacy. (Release ID: 2177191).
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary body empowered to conduct elections and issue directives related to voter identification.
Electors' Photo Identity Card (EPIC): The primary photo ID used for voter identification, but alternative documents are permitted.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: Law empowering ECI to direct the use of EPIC for voter identification.
Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: Rules read with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, further defining the powers of the ECI.
Bihar: One specific location where EPIC issuance to electors is mentioned.
Election Commission
Electors on the Voter List can display any one of 12
alternative Photo ID apart from EPIC to vote
Posted On: 10 OCT 2025 11:23AM by PIB Delhi
1. Election Commission India (ECI) is empowered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 read
with the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to direct that Electors' Photo Identity Card (EPIC) be
issued to electors to facilitate their identification and prevent impersonation at the Polling Station.
2. EPICs have been issued to nearly 100% of the electors in Bihar and in the 8 Assembly Constituencies
going to bye-elections. The Commission had also issued directions to all CEOs to ensure the delivery of
EPICs to the new voters within 15 days of final publication of Electoral Rolls.
3. Further, for the convenience of voters whose names are on the electoral rolls but are unable to produce
the EPIC for their identification ECI has issued notification on October 7, 2025 permitting such electors
to produce any one of the following 12 alternative photo identity documents: Aadhaar CardMNREGA
Job CardPassbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post OfficeHealth Insurance Smart Card issued
under the scheme of Ministry of Labour/ Ayushman Bharat Health CardDriving LicensePAN
CardSmart Card issued by RGI under NPRIndian PassportPension document with photographService
Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public
Limited CompaniesOfficial identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs andUnique Disability ID (UDID)
Card issued by the M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India
4. It maybe reiterated that the presence of name on the Electoral Roll is a prerequisite to be able to vote on
polling day.
5. To encourage participation of ‘purdanasheen’ (in burqa or purdah) women, special arrangements shall
be made at the Polling Stations as per extant instructions for their dignified identification in the presence
of lady Polling Officers/Attendants while ensuring their privacy.
*****
PK/GDH/RP
(Release ID: 2177191)