Since 2000, name fields have been filled in both Greek and Latin characters. According to the Signpost Service of the European Commission to Enquiry 36581, old type Greek ID cards "are as valid as the new type according to Greek law and thus they constitute valid travel documents that all other EU Member States are obliged to accept". In addition to being equivalent to passports within the European Economic Area, Greek ID cards are the principal means of identification of voters during elections.