Karnataka - Bidar   

EC permits use of alternative documents as identity proof

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIDAR, SEPT. 26. The Election Commission has allowed voters to use alternative documents to establish their identity to cast their votes in the byelections from the Bidar (reserved) Lok Sabha constituency, if they do not have the electoral photo identity card.

In a press release, the Commission has clarified that the establishment of a voter's identity was mandatory. However, since not all voters had obtained the photo identity cards, the Commission would permit some voters to establish their identity using alternative documents, the release said.

Authorised documents

The authorised alternative documents are: passport; driver's license; income tax identity (PAN) cards; service identity cards issued by State or Central governments, public sector undertakings, local bodies or other private industrial houses, to their employees; bank, kisan, post office cards; student identity cards issued by recognised educational institutions; property documents such as pattas and registered deeds; ration cards; SC/ST or OBC certificates issued by competent authorities; pension documents such as ex-servicemen's pension book/pension payment order, ex-servicemen's widow/dependent certificates, old age pension order, and widow pension order; railway identification cards; freedom fighter identity cards; arms licenses; or certificate of physical handicap.

Bank passbook

In case of bank passbooks being used as identity proof, the voter should have opened the account on or before September 1, 2004. Similarly, student's identity card, ration cards, and caste certificates, should have been obtained on or before September 1.

The Superintendent of Police, Amrit Pal, has asked officials to prevent the distribution of money or liquor to voters before or during the byelections from the Bidar (reserved) Lok Sabha constituency.

Participating in a preparatory meeting of police officials on poll duty, Mr. Pal asked the officials to ensure that voters were not threatened by any candidate or political party. He also asked them to cooperate with the officials of the Election Commission and other officers on poll duty to ensure a free and fair election.

The Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer, T.K. Anil Kumar, said that the officials must ensure that the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of elections are followed. He asked them to take action against anyone who violated the model code of conduct.

The Election Commission's observer, M.A. Sattar; the Additional Superintendent of Police, V.B. Kittali; Assistant Commissioners, T.H.M. Kumar and Vijay Shankar, were present.

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