November 26, 2001
‘7’
RAJYA SABHA
MANDATORY USE OF IDENTITY CARDS IN ELECTIONS
According to the Election Commission of India, it is expected that the mandatory use of photo identity cards along with certain alternative means of identification during the next general elections, on the lines of procedure adopted during the last general elections to various Legislative Assemblies will be able to check bonus voting to a large extent.
The Election Commission has informed that more than thirty-nine crore electors representing 63.5 per cent of the eligible voters in the country (including Jammu & Kashmir where the scheme has not been extended) have been provided photo identity cards. The scheme to issue photo identity cards t electors, is however, not a project but a programme for the completion of which no time limit can be fixed as the registration of electors is a continuous and ongoing process (excepting for a brief period between the last date for filing nomination and completion of electoral process) on account of more number of persons becoming eligible for the right of franchise on attaining the age of 18 years as also due to movement of electors.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley in a written reply to a question Shri Krishna Kumar Birla in the Rajya Sabha today.