Tamil Nadu election: EPIC valid across State if voter is on electoral roll, says ECI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, announced that a voter can use the Voter Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of a different Assembly constituency. Such a card will be accepted as valid identification provided that the voter’s name is included in the electoral roll of the polling station where he or she plans to vote.

This clarification is important for voters who have applied for a new EPIC after immigrating but have not yet received the EPIC. Therefore, even if a voter presents an EPIC issued in another constituency anywhere in the state, it will be considered proof of identity as long as his name is listed in the electoral roll of the relevant polling station.

At the same time, Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik in a statement made it clear that possession of an EPIC or any other ID prescribed by the ECI will not entitle a person to vote unless his name is in the electoral roll of the polling station in question.

Overseas voters registered in the electoral rolls under Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, based on information in their Indian passports, will be identified at the polls solely on the basis of their original passports (and other identity documents).

Other identity documents

Voters who cannot produce EPIC will produce one of the following alternative photo ID documents: Aadhaar card, MGNREGA job card, photo passbooks issued by banks or post offices, Health Insurance Smart Card or Ayushman Bharat Health Card issued under Ministry of Labor scheme, driving licence, PAN card, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian passport, photo retirement certificate, photo service ID cards issued to employees by Central or State governments, PSUs or public limited companies, official identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs or MLCs and Unique Disability Identification (UDID) card issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.