The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Voter ID must for local bodies polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Voter ID must for local bodies polls

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV.16. The State Election Commission has decided to make compulsory the identification of voters in the coming local bodies elections in a bid to curb impersonation and ensure free and fair polling.

In exercise of the plenary powers conferred under Articles 243-K and 243-ZA of the Constitution, the SEC ordered that electors should compulsorily produce any of the following 15 documents to establish their identity at the polling stations:

1.Electoral photo identity card, 2) passport, 3) driving license, 4) IT identity (PAN) card, 5) service identity cards issued to employees by Government, quasi-Government and private bodies. 6) bank/kisan/post office passbooks, 7) student identity cards 8) property documents 9) ration cards, 10) SC/ST/OBC certificates 11) documents such as ex-servicemen's pension book or payment order, ex-servicemen's widow/ dependent certificate, old age pension order, widow pension order, 12) railway identification card, 13) freedom fighter identity card, 14) arms license and 15) certificate of physical handicap issued by a competent authority.

A press release issued by the SEC's secretary, Debabrata Kantha, said the possession of the 15 documents would not automatically confer a right to vote if the names were not enrolled in the voter's list of the local body concerned. "These orders come into force from October 2 , 2004, the release said.

The orders for compulsory identification of voters shall be strictly implemented in the causal elections notified to ward no.87-Hissamgunj Monda, MCH, for which the poll is scheduled on November 18.

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