Guwahati, 01 April (HS): Ahead of the General Election to the Assam Legislative Assembly, 2026, the Election Commission of India has directed that voters must produce their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) at polling stations to establish identity before casting their votes.

The Commission stated that electors who are unable to present their EPIC can use any one of 12 alternative photo identity documents. These include Aadhaar Card, MGNREGA Job Card, Bank or Post Office passbook with photograph, Ayushman Bharat/Health Insurance Smart Card, Driving Licence, PAN Card, NPR Smart Card, Indian Passport, Pension document with photograph, Service Identity Card issued by Government or PSU/Public Limited Company, official ID cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card.

It further clarified that minor clerical errors or spelling mistakes in EPICs will be ignored, provided the voter’s identity can still be verified. However, in cases where the photograph does not match, voters will be required to produce one of the approved alternative documents.

For overseas electors registered under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Commission has specified that only the original passport will be accepted as proof of identity at polling stations.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash