Don't have voter ID? Passport...will do

[WhiskeyGirl]

Don't have voter ID? Passport, PAN card will do

Delhi residents, who don't have photo identity cards, can show their arms license, passport or driving license to cast their ballots at the assembly polls later this month, an Election Commission official said on Tuesday. However, ration cards will not be acceptable.

"Around 20 per cent of our voters still don't have photo ID cards. Keeping this in mind, we have allowed 12 other documents including arms license with photograph to help citizens cast their votes," Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Satbir Silas Bedi said.

read more here - http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19949&sectionid=4&issueid=79&Itemid=1

What a novel idea...photo id

Is it a good thing to know who's voting?

[WhiskeyGirl]

Universal Identification (UID) number for citizens by 2010

India with over a billion plus population certainly needs an efficient identification system for many reasons: be it the security or for personal convenience. Presently in the absence of such a universal system, different sectors are using their own process of identification – such as PAN card, ration card, Electoral Photo Identity Card, credit cards, etc which are limited in use. But UID will facilitate easy availing of government or private services, banking and financial activities by serving as the permanent identification.

One of the foremost benefits of this system would be to end the needless harassment that people face in accessing basic government facilities such as issuance of passport, bank account, voter ID card, driving licenses, etc.; citizens, then, only need to show the UID for easy verification in all cases.

It would also serve as the basis for many e-governance services incorporating online verification of a person’s identity. UID would enable government to ensure that benefits under various welfare programmes reach the intended beneficiaries, prevent cornering of benefits by a few people and minimize frauds. It would enable financial institutions to exchange information regarding defaulters and encourage responsible borrower behaviour.

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/36388

What ideas!   

If India can do it, why not the US?  No more worry about DEPRIVING some of the ability to vote.