New Delhi, March 2: Responding to concerns about duplicate voter card numbers issued to electors in different states, India's Election Commission (EC) on Sunday clarified that identical Electors' Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers do not imply the existence of fake voters.
The clarification comes after recent reports highlighted instances where electors in separate states possessed identical EPIC numbers. Addressing the issue, the EC stated clearly that while some EPIC numbers assigned might be identical, crucial voter details, including demographic information, assembly constituencies, and assigned polling booths, remain distinct.
"Irrespective of the EPIC number, an elector can only cast their vote at the polling station designated to them within their enrolled constituency. There is no provision allowing voting elsewhere," the EC explained in an official statement.
ERONET, the centralized system, was designed explicitly to maintain accuracy and transparency in electoral rolls by eliminating duplicate entries and updating voter registrations, especially for migrated electors.
In its commitment to streamline this correction process, the EC announced an upgrade to ERONET 2.0, aiming to support election officials effectively in assigning unique EPIC numbers to all registered voters.
This move underscores the Election Commission's ongoing efforts to bolster voter trust and electoral integrity ahead of future electoral exercises.
The clarification comes after recent reports highlighted instances where electors in separate states possessed identical EPIC numbers. Addressing the issue, the EC stated clearly that while some EPIC numbers assigned might be identical, crucial voter details, including demographic information, assembly constituencies, and assigned polling booths, remain distinct.
"Irrespective of the EPIC number, an elector can only cast their vote at the polling station designated to them within their enrolled constituency. There is no provision allowing voting elsewhere," the EC explained in an official statement.
Reason Behind Duplicate EPIC Numbers
Explaining the source of duplication, the commission attributed the issue to a decentralized and manual numbering system previously utilized by individual state Chief Electoral Officers. This practice preceded the migration of electoral roll databases to the centralized ERONET platform. Consequently, the same EPIC alphanumeric series was unintentionally assigned to electors in different assembly constituencies across various states and Union Territories.ERONET, the centralized system, was designed explicitly to maintain accuracy and transparency in electoral rolls by eliminating duplicate entries and updating voter registrations, especially for migrated electors.
Election Commission's Remedial Measures through ERONET 2.0
To proactively address public concerns and eliminate such duplications entirely, the Election Commission has decided to ensure the issuance of unique EPIC numbers for each voter. The commission assured that any existing duplicate EPIC numbers would be rectified through the assignment of new, unique numbers.In its commitment to streamline this correction process, the EC announced an upgrade to ERONET 2.0, aiming to support election officials effectively in assigning unique EPIC numbers to all registered voters.
This move underscores the Election Commission's ongoing efforts to bolster voter trust and electoral integrity ahead of future electoral exercises.
