The non-acceptance of Aadhaar card as a voter identification document caused confusion not only among the voters and party workers, but sections of officials as well in the State. Although the Election Commission did not include Aadhaar in the list of 12 documents as proof of identity for a voter, several voters in many places were allowed to vote by showing Aadhaar.
In Tamil Nadu too, many people voted by using Aadhaar to prove their identity. However, some places such as Ponnani in the district witnessed arguments over non-acceptance of Aadhaar. Voters argued that if NPR smartcard could be accepted, then why not Aadhaar? Polling was interrupted for a brief while at booth number five at Munavvarul Islam Secondary Madrasa, Ponnani, over the Aadhaar issue.
Election observer P. Amudha and returning officer V. Rajesh reached the booth and convinced the election agents about the Election Commission guidelines. Ms. Amudha, when contacted, refused to say either yes or no about Aadhaar’s validity. District Collector Venkatesapathy S. said that they were not supposed to interpret the Election Commission’s order but to implement it. “We have the order dated May 2 in black and white, in which 12 documents for voter identity are clearly mentioned. We should not accept a document excluded from a specific list,” he said.
