Election Commission to Resolve Duplicate Voter ID Issue in Three Months

08-03-2025

04:49 AM

1 min read

What’s in Today’s Article?

The Election Commission (EC) has pledged to resolve the long-standing issue of duplicate voter ID numbers within three months. This follows concerns from Opposition parties over potential voter manipulation.
The EC acknowledged that different individuals could share the same Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number due to states using identical alphanumeric series but denied this indicated fake voters. Opposition leaders argue that duplicate voter IDs exist within the same state.
According to the EC’s Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, all EPICs should have unique numbers.

The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 mandates the issuance of Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to prevent voter impersonation.
State governments began issuing EPICs to registered voters in 1993.

EPICs serve as identity documents but do not grant the right to vote. Only those listed in the electoral roll of a constituency can vote.
An EPIC includes the voter's name, age, residence, specified particulars, a photograph, and the facsimile signature of the registration officer.

As per the EC Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, each EPIC is assigned a unique alphanumeric number consisting of three alphabetical codes followed by a seven-digit number.
This includes a Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN) for each Assembly constituency.

Since 2017, EPICs have been generated through the EC’s ERONET portal and can only be created online.
A unique EPIC number is assigned to a voter when issued for the first time. If a replacement is needed, the original number remains unchanged.

A prominent political party has alleged that many voters have the same EPIC number, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral roll.
It further alleged that non-residents were being brought into Bengal to vote using duplicated EPIC numbers.

The Election Commission (EC) acknowledged the existence of duplicate EPIC numbers but clarified that this does not indicate fake voters.

Before the introduction of the ERONET platform, different states used the same alphanumeric series for EPICs, leading to duplication.
However, other voter details, such as name, address, constituency, and polling booth, remained unique.

The EC emphasized that an elector can only vote at their designated polling station within their registered constituency, regardless of their EPIC number.

To address concerns, the EC assured that unique EPIC numbers would be assigned to all registered voters.
The ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to facilitate this process, and new EPIC numbers will be issued to those affected by duplication.

Q1. What is the issue of duplicate voter IDs?

Ans. Some voters share the same EPIC number due to states using identical alphanumeric series before ERONET’s introduction.

Q2. Why is the Election Commission addressing duplicate EPIC numbers?

Ans. Opposition parties raised concerns over electoral roll integrity, alleging voter duplication and potential election manipulation.

Q3. How does the EC plan to resolve duplicate voter IDs?

Ans. The EC will update ERONET 2.0 to assign unique EPIC numbers to all voters within three months.

Q4. Do duplicate EPIC numbers indicate fake voters?

Ans. The EC denies fake voter claims, stating that voting rights depend on electoral roll listing, not just EPIC numbers.

Q5. What is ERONET and its role in voter ID management?

Ans. ERONET is the EC’s online platform ensuring unique EPIC issuance and eliminating duplication across states.

Source: IE | IE | TH