The voter ID card and the voter slip: how they differ

The voter ID card, known as the EPIC, is a photo identity card issued by the Commission. The voter information slip is a separate paper distributed house to house by the booth level officer before an election. The slip carries the voter’s name, the part number of the roll, the serial number and the address of the polling station. The two do different jobs.

The EPIC is an identity document. The slip is an information document that tells the voter where to go and at what serial number. Since 2019 the Commission has made clear that a photo voter slip will not be accepted as a standalone identity document.

What to show on polling day

The first condition is that the name must be on the roll. The EPIC can be shown for identity. Without an EPIC, one of the alternative photo documents notified by the Commission can be used, such as an Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence, PAN card, a bank or post office passbook with photo, or an MGNREGA job card. The list is issued by the Commission for each election.

Holding an EPIC alone does not allow a vote if the name is not on the roll. If the name is on the roll but there is no EPIC, a voter can still vote with an alternative document.

Using the slip properly

The slip helps a voter find the polling station and serial number, which makes it easier for the polling team to locate the entry. The Commission now generally issues information slips without a photograph so that they are not mistaken for identity cards. A voter who does not receive a slip can get the details on the Commission’s website or through the voter helpline 1950.

Turnout in Uttar Pradesh was 60.94 percent in 2022. The most common confusion on polling day is about which document is accepted. A name on the roll and one valid photo identity document are the two things to remember.

Key points

• The voter ID card, known as the EPIC, is a photo identity card issued by the Commission.
• The first condition is that the name must be on the roll.
• The slip helps a voter find the polling station and serial number, which makes it easier for the polling team to locate the entry.

The 2024 Lok Sabha context

In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats were won as follows: Samajwadi Party 37, BJP 33, Congress 6, RLD 2, Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) 1 and Apna Dal (S) 1. Lok Sabha and assembly elections turn on different issues and alliances, so the two results should not be added together to reach a conclusion.

The structure of the House

The Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly has 403 seats. Of these, 84 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 2 for Scheduled Tribes. The majority mark is 202. The state sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha and 31 to the Rajya Sabha. The legislative council is a separate House whose members come through different electorates and nomination.

Also read:

• Budaun district assembly results 2022
• Mathura district assembly results 2022
• Ghazipur district assembly results 2022

Source: Election Commission of India. Figures are from official statistical reports.

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