National
People can vote with old ID cards: EC
The voter identification cards distributed for the local elections will be acceptable in the upcoming elections, the Election Commission has said.The voter identification cards distributed for the local elections will be acceptable in the upcoming elections, the Election Commission has said.
The election body clarified on Friday that it was currently issuing ID cards to new voters and those voters whose personal details needed correction.
“Voters who already have identity cards from the local elections can use them. The commission is not distributing new ID cards,” said Navaraj Dhakal, spokesperson of the EC.
The election body started issuing voter ID cards from the polling centres in 32 districts on Friday.
The first phase of the elections for federal parliament and provincial assemblies are taking place on Sunday.
For the second phase of elections scheduled for December 7, the voter ID cards shall be distributed on December 5 and 6, said Dhakal. The EC had printed 2.2 million voter ID cards for the upcoming elections, for which 1,355,519 people have registered as new voters, adding to the previous voters’ number tally of 15,427,938.
Meanwhile, the election body is considering allowing people to vote with any other government-issued ID cards like citizenship, passport and driver’s licence.
It wants to ensure that all registered voters get the opportunity to exercise their franchise by accepting non-EC issued ID cards as well.
If one has their names on the voters’ roll, there should be no problem in allowing them to vote by showing other ID cards, Dhakal said, adding that the EC could announce its decision on Saturday.