Election Commission Rules Out Madhyamik Admit Card as Valid Age Proof for Voter Revision

Election Commission Rules: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a significant directive regarding the Special Summary Revision (SIR) process and document verification for voter registration. This update is crucial for citizens, especially new voters and those seeking corrections in their electoral details. According to the latest instruction, the Madhyamik (Secondary) Admit Card will no longer be accepted as a valid proof of age for voter-related procedures. This decision overturns the previous assumption that the admit card could serve as a primary document for age verification.

What Does the New Decision Entail?

The Election Commission has made it explicitly clear that the Madhyamik Admit Card will not be considered a valid document for the SIR process. Previously, there was a prevailing notion that since the admit card contains the candidate’s date of birth, it could be utilized as proof of age during voter registration or correction applications. However, the ECI has completely ruled out this possibility. Consequently, submitting this document as age proof for any voter-related work will now lead to rejection.

Context of the Proposal and Rejection

This directive comes after a series of communications between the state and central electoral bodies. To understand the gravity of the decision, consider the following points:

• Proposal from the State: The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state had sent a specific proposal to the Election Commission of India. The rationale behind this proposal was to assist citizens, particularly school dropouts or those lacking a formal birth certificate, for whom the Madhyamik Admit Card serves as a key document containing their date of birth. The state urged the ECI to accept it as valid proof.
• Stance of the ECI: After reviewing the proposal, the National Election Commission firmly rejected it. The Commission maintained that for the integrity of the voter verification or SIR process, the Madhyamik Admit Card does not meet the criteria to be classified as a ‘valid document’ for establishing age conclusively.

Why the Confusion?

There has been considerable confusion among the public regarding this issue. Initially, when the proposal regarding the acceptance of this document was moved by state officials, it sparked hope among many applicants. This was particularly relevant for people in rural areas or those for whom procuring a birth certificate is challenging; they hoped the admit card would simplify the process.

However, the shift from a potential acceptance to a definitive rejection has created ambiguity. The oscillation between the initial positive signals and the subsequent strict dismissal by the Commission has raised questions about the stability of the procedural guidelines.

Advisory for Applicants

Following this final decision by the Commission, citizens must exercise caution. Those intending to enroll their names in the voter list or correct existing errors should not rely on the Madhyamik Admit Card as proof of age. Instead, it is advisable to keep ready a Birth Certificate or other documents officially approved by the Commission. Disregarding this new directive may result in the cancellation of the voter application.