M A I N   N E W S

Proving of identity
EC lists 11 more documents
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Feb 12 — The Election Commission has clarified that voters in Haryana who don’t have electoral identity cards can produce such documents as arms licence, physically handicapped certificate, student ID card, railway or bus pass, conductor licence, freedom fighters’ ID card, ex-servicemen's’ pension book, at the polling stations during voting on February 22.

The addition of 11 alternative identification documents to the previous list is likely to benefit 12 per cent of the voters who don’t have electoral identity cards, according to sources in the EC.

As per the EC’s assessment, the percentage of electoral identity card coverage is the highest in Haryana, at 89 per cent. No other state even touches 80 per cent coverage.

Responding to the clarification sought by the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana , Mr Bhaskar Chatterjee, on the use of “any other similar documents”, the EC has enumerated a list of 11 more alternative documents as CSD canteen card issued for ex-soldiers, school leaving certificate, original degree mark sheet, pension payment order and ex-servicemen’s widow or dependent certificate for use at the polling stations.

In its earlier order on Thursday, the commission had said that the production of electoral identity cards was mandatory for voters of Haryana. The order said that electors who have not obtained their electoral identity cards or those who are unable to produce them would be able to vote provided they are able to produce other documentary evidence to the satisfaction of the Presiding Officer. The order enumerated ration cards, driving licences, passports, identity cards issued by the Central or State governments, public sector undertakings, local bodies or other private industrial houses, pass books issued by banks and post offices, kisan pass books, electricity bills and chula tax bills.

In its letter to the CEO, Haryana, the EC has further clarified that documents relating to the head of the family as ration cards, chula tax bills and electricity bills shall be “construed to establish the identity of other members of his family who are eligible to vote and whose names are included in the electoral roll.”

Sources in the Election Commission said that in the next year’s Assembly elections, it would insist on production of electoral identity cards. “ This liberty of showing other documents for identity is only a one-time measure. We have already decided to pursue our efforts for using these cards in the 2001 elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Pondicherry.”