CJ REPORT: 'VOTER CARDS' GET TO MAKE-OVER IN COLOR SOON

By CJ Seema Singh in New Delhi

The Election Commission is considering changing the laminated voter identity card into a driving license-like hard plastic card which is more durable.

“At present, the laminated Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is made of paper with the elector’s photograph. Now we are considering changing it at the pan-India level to a hard plastic card, something like a driving card or a credit card,” Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla said today.

The new voter card with colour photos will be first issued in Assam and Nagaland, he told an Interactive Session here.

Nearly 95 per cent voters are covered with EPIC except in Assam and Nagaland. The current card costs about Rs 10-12 and the new EPIC will incur an expenditure of less Rs 50.

However, the Commission will charge a fee, which will be less that Rs 50, from the voters holding the present EPIC to convert them into hard plastic cards. The choice to opt for the new version will be that of the voter.

The Commission has already held meetings with representatives of various organisations — both private and state-owned– for price negotiations for the new card that will carry colour photos and will be long lasting as compared to the present ones.

But the new card will not be a smart card unlike a driving license, EC officials said.