No Policy Shift on Passports in Voter Verification, Election Commission Clarifies

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday clarified that an Indian passport continues to be one of the 12 valid supporting documents that voters can submit to establish their eligibility during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The clarification comes amid a controversy sparked by a recent statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which said that a passport is not, by itself, proof of citizenship under the provisions of the Passport Act, 1967 .

Responding to queries on the issue, Election Commission officials stressed that there has been no change in the policy governing the use of passports during voter registration and verification exercises. Government sources also underlined that passports have never been treated as conclusive proof of citizenship and that the current position has remained unchanged over the past 12 years.

Officials noted that during electoral roll revisions, including the ongoing exercise in Bihar and earlier revisions in Assam , passports have consistently featured among the accepted supporting documents that applicants may submit.

“ Passport was and continues to be one of the documents to establish identity ,” an official said, emphasizing that the document remains part of the prescribed list used in the verification process.

The EC clarified that the role of supporting documents is to assist in establishing identity and eligibility. The final determination on whether a person qualifies to be included in the voters’ list is made by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) after examining the submitted records and other relevant details.

The clarification is aimed at addressing public confusion and reaffirming that the passport’s status as an accepted document in electoral roll verification remains unchanged.