From over 20 documents which were valid to exercise franchise during the last elections, the number of valid documents to exercise franchise has come down to 12 this time.

Surprisingly, the ration card is not a valid document to exercise franchise this time.

According to the Election Commission notification dated April 17, 2018, all electors who have been issued EPICs shall produce their EPICs for their identification at the polling station before casting their votes.

However, those electors who are not able to produce the EPIC shall have to produce one of the following 12 alternative photo identity documents for establishing their identity.

"As ration cards are one of the common identity cards readily available at home and one ration card is enough proof for all the family members, usually many get ration cards as ID proof to exercise their franchise," said an official.

With Election Commission’s decision not to consider ration card as a valid proof, many voters may have to go back to their home to get other valid documents.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said that he would check the reason with the concerned officials at Election Commission, but the efforts to reach the Election Commission officials went in vain.

ALTERNATE IDS

(1) Passport

(2) Driving Licence

(3) Service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by Central and state governments, PSUs and public limited companies

(4) Passbooks with photograph issued by bank and post office

(5) PAN card

(6) Smart card issued by RGI under NPR

(7) MNREGA job card

(8) Health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of Ministry of
Labour

(9) Pension document with photograph

(10) Authenticated photo voter slip issued by the election machinery

(11) Official identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs and MLCs

(12) Aadhaar card