New voter ID cards: Colour photos, PAN card size

The Election Commission has decided to improve the quality of the electors photo-identity card (EPIC), with new cards that are tamper-proof, look like a PAN card and carry a colour photo of the voter.

While existing EPIC holders can get the new card by paying a fee that is yet to be decided, all cards issued after electoral rolls are revised will be in the new format, said UP Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umesh Sinha.

He said the EC has sent specifications of the new card to CEOs of all states based on a suggestion he made in December and following consultations with CEOs in January. Assam has already issued such cards, which also help prevent tampering and impersonation.

The new card size will be 8.6 cm vertical and 5.4 cm horizontal and will be printed on a PVC sheet and laminated. Existing EPICs are monochrome and use thin paper which is laminated.

Sinha said the photos on the new card must be in sharp focus, of high quality, with no crease and ink marks, showing natural skin tones and clearly recognizable features .

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