]Bypoll Assembly Elections 2026: Lost Your Voter ID Card Before Polling Day? Here’s How You Can Still Vote Using Other Approved Identity Documents

By-Poll Assembly Elections 2026: The Election Commission of India has clarified that voters can still cast their vote even if their physical voter ID card is missing. The key requirement is that the voter’s name must appear in the official electoral roll of their constituency.

The Election Commission has scheduled polling for five Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha constituency on October 6. The Assembly seats are Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal and Thattanchavady in Puducherry. In Assam, the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency will also vote. Counting is scheduled for October 9.

By-Poll Assembly Elections 2026: Can You Vote Without a Voter ID Card?

Yes, voters can still vote without carrying the physical Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC).

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According to the Election Commission, the most important condition for voting is that the voter’s name must be listed in the electoral roll. If polling officials find the name in the voter list, they verify the person’s identity using other government-approved documents.

Once the polling officer confirms the voter’s identity, the individual is allowed to cast their vote.

This means losing your voter ID card does not automatically disqualify you from voting.

By-Poll Assembly Elections 2026: Alternative ID Documents Allowed at Polling Booths

To help voters who do not have their voter ID cards, the Election Commission allows several alternative identity documents. These documents must contain the voter’s photograph and be issued by an authorised authority.

The accepted identity proofs include: