NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued detailed instructions to ensure proper voter identification ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, including special arrangements for women in burqa or purdah, amid heightened scrutiny over electoral rolls and voter verification.
In a press note, the poll body said, "To encourage participation of ' purdanasheen ' (in burqa or purdah) women, special arrangements shall be made at the Polling Stations as per extant instructions for their dignified identification in the presence of lady Polling Officers/Attendants while ensuring their privacy."
The ECI said it is empowered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to issue Electors’ Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to facilitate identification and prevent impersonation at polling stations. Nearly 100% of voters in Bihar and the eight constituencies going to bye-elections have already received EPICs. The Commission also directed Chief Electoral Officers to ensure delivery of EPICs to new voters within 15 days of final publication of electoral rolls.
For voters unable to produce an EPIC, the ECI on October 7, 2025, allowed the use of 12 alternative photo identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, MNREGA job cards, bank or post office passbooks with photographs, health insurance smart cards, driving licenses, PAN cards, Indian passports, pension documents with photographs, government service identity cards, official MP/MLA/MLC IDs, and Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards. The Commission reiterated that inclusion on the electoral roll is a prerequisite for voting.
The instructions come amid a political debate over voter verification. Last week, Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal urged the ECI to ensure “proper verification” so that only “genuine voters” can cast ballots, particularly highlighting burqa-clad women. “We have urged the ECI to ensure that the tallying of faces of voters, especially burqa-clad women, must be ensured with respective EPIC cards so that only genuine voters get to exercise their franchise,” he said. Jaiswal also suggested deploying paramilitary forces in villages with sizeable weaker-section populations to prevent intimidation during polling.
The move drew criticism from the opposition. Abhay Kushwaha of the RJD, which leads the Mahagathbandhan coalition, called the BJP proposal “a political conspiracy.” He added, “Only recently has the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls been carried out. New EPIC cards are to be issued to all voters with fresh photographs. Identification of voters is no big deal. But the BJP wants to push its own agenda.”
The RJD also requested the ECI to disclose details of 3.66 lakh names deleted from the final electoral roll and urged the poll panel to restrain the NDA government from making “populist announcements” without budgetary allocation and curb personal attacks during the campaign.
In a press note, the poll body said, "To encourage participation of ' purdanasheen ' (in burqa or purdah) women, special arrangements shall be made at the Polling Stations as per extant instructions for their dignified identification in the presence of lady Polling Officers/Attendants while ensuring their privacy."
Electors on the Voter List can display any one of 12 alternative Photo ID apart
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 10, 2025
from EPIC to vote
Read more: https://t.co/GxQzHoRXIl pic.twitter.com/vscslV16wW
The ECI said it is empowered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to issue Electors’ Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to facilitate identification and prevent impersonation at polling stations. Nearly 100% of voters in Bihar and the eight constituencies going to bye-elections have already received EPICs. The Commission also directed Chief Electoral Officers to ensure delivery of EPICs to new voters within 15 days of final publication of electoral rolls.
For voters unable to produce an EPIC, the ECI on October 7, 2025, allowed the use of 12 alternative photo identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, MNREGA job cards, bank or post office passbooks with photographs, health insurance smart cards, driving licenses, PAN cards, Indian passports, pension documents with photographs, government service identity cards, official MP/MLA/MLC IDs, and Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards. The Commission reiterated that inclusion on the electoral roll is a prerequisite for voting.
The instructions come amid a political debate over voter verification. Last week, Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal urged the ECI to ensure “proper verification” so that only “genuine voters” can cast ballots, particularly highlighting burqa-clad women. “We have urged the ECI to ensure that the tallying of faces of voters, especially burqa-clad women, must be ensured with respective EPIC cards so that only genuine voters get to exercise their franchise,” he said. Jaiswal also suggested deploying paramilitary forces in villages with sizeable weaker-section populations to prevent intimidation during polling.
The move drew criticism from the opposition. Abhay Kushwaha of the RJD, which leads the Mahagathbandhan coalition, called the BJP proposal “a political conspiracy.” He added, “Only recently has the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls been carried out. New EPIC cards are to be issued to all voters with fresh photographs. Identification of voters is no big deal. But the BJP wants to push its own agenda.”
The RJD also requested the ECI to disclose details of 3.66 lakh names deleted from the final electoral roll and urged the poll panel to restrain the NDA government from making “populist announcements” without budgetary allocation and curb personal attacks during the campaign.
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