To ensure more and active participation of voters across the State, Election Commission of India (ECI) has, for the first time, issued clear directives that voters can cast their ballots by producing various documents as long as his/her number was enrolled in the electoral list.
Now, this has boosted the confidence of many voters, especially in those critical and vulnerable polling stations or colonies where voters were threatened by different political parties.
There was a complaint during the last election of voter slips being rejected following reports of these being “purchased” by some political parties. However, with introduction of the new system, it is hoped that the percentage of voters’ turnout would increase.
The ECI said that voters unable to produce their electors’ photo identity cards (EPICs) too would be eligible to vote by producing other documents to prove their identity, including voter slips.
The commission said those voters unable to produce EPIC, could produce documents like passports, driving licenses, identity cards with photographs issued to employees by Central and State governments, PSUs and public limited companies, passbooks with photographs issued by banks and post offices, PAN card, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, MNREGA job card, health insurance smart card issued by Union ministry of Labour, pension documents with photographs, authenticated photo voter slip issued by the election machinery, official identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs, MLCs and Aadhaar cards as alternative photo identity documents for establishing their identity.
ECI added that authenticated photo voter slip was just one of the 12 documents, in addition to EPIC, for establishing identity of an elector at the time of voting.
Campaigning ends today
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland has informed to all candidates and political parties that the campaigning period for election to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, 2018 will end with effect from 4pm February 25, 2018.
In a press release, CEO Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, has directed the district election administration/police administration to ensure that all political functionaries leave the constituency immediately after the campaign period was over.
CEO, however, said that the restriction may not be insisted upon the office bearer of the political party who is in-charge of the state.
Further, CEO stated that such office bearer would declare his place of stay in the state headquarters, adding that his movement during the period in question would remain confined normally between his party office and place of his stay.