Assembly elections 2023: You can vote even without carrying a Voter ID, but here's the catch

As the political fate of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram hangs in the balance with the upcoming assembly elections, the spotlight shifts to the voting process itself. With the second phase of voting in Chhattisgarh coinciding with polls in Madhya Pradesh on November 17, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ensures that citizens without a physical voter ID can still exercise their franchise.

The ECI's guidelines offer a route for those lacking a physical voter ID. To participate in the electoral process sans the ID card, citizens must register as a voter. This involves completing and submitting Form 6 to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of their respective assembly constituency. Once their name surfaces on the electoral roll, they gain the right to vote even without possessing a physical voter ID card.

However, alternatives in the form of other valid documents are necessary. Acceptable substitutes include a driving license, passport, Aadhar card, PAN card, MNREGA job card, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, passbook with a photograph from a state bank or post office, service identity cards with photographs issued by central/state government/PSU/public limited company, pension documents with photographs, health insurance smart cards issued under the Ministry of Labour scheme, or official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs.