Identical EPIC Number
It is possible for different voters in India to have had identical EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) numbers, a situation the Election Commission of India (ECI) has acknowledged and is actively working to resolve.
Background on the Issue
- What is an EPIC number? The EPIC number is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric code assigned to each registered voter to serve as their identity document and prevent impersonation during elections.
- Cause of Duplication: The identical numbers resulted from a decentralized and manual system of allotment used by various state and union territory Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) offices before the implementation of the centralized ERONET (Electoral Roll Management System) platform. Some offices unknowingly used the same alphanumeric series.
- No Electoral Fraud Implied: The ECI has clarified that having the same EPIC number does not imply the existence of duplicate or fake voters. Even with an identical EPIC number, the voter's other details—including demographic information, Assembly Constituency, and polling booth location—are different and unique.
- Voting Restrictions: An elector can only cast a vote at their specific, designated polling station where they are officially enrolled in the electoral roll, irrespective of their EPIC number.
Resolution and Next Steps
The Election Commission has decided to ensure that all registered electors have a unique EPIC number nationwide.
- Rectification Plan: Any cases of duplicate EPIC numbers will be rectified by allotting a new, unique number.
- System Update: The ERONET 2.0 platform is being updated to aid and assist in this process of eliminating all duplicate entries.
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