Same EPIC Number Does Not Mean Bogus Voters, Clarifies ECI

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that two valid voters can have Election Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) with an identical number.

However, their Assembly constituencies and polling booths should be different.

Rubbishing reports on social media regarding bogus voters using EPICs with identical numbers, the ECI issued a press note on Sunday.

“It is clarified that duplication in EPIC number does not imply duplicate/fake voters. Some cases of duplicate EPIC numbers were caused due to use of identical alphanumeric series by Election Commissions of two different states or union territories,” the note states.

“The Election Commission has taken cognizance of certain social media posts and media reports flagging the issue of electors of two different states having identical EPIC numbers. In this regard, it is clarified that while EPIC numbers of some of the electors may be identical, the other details including demographic details, Assembly Constituency and polling booth are different for such electors with the same EPIC number. Irrespective of the EPIC number, any elector can cast a vote only at their designated polling station in their respective Constituency in the State/UT where they are enrolled in the electoral roll and nowhere else,” it has been further clarified.

The note also explains: “The allotment of identical EPIC number/series to some electors from different States/UTs was due to a decentralized and manual mechanism being followed prior to shifting of the electoral roll database of all States/UTs to the ERONET platform. This resulted in certain State/UT CEO offices using the same EPIC alphanumeric series and leaving a scope for the possibility of duplicate EPIC numbers being allotted to electors in different Assembly Constituencies in different States/UTs.”

The ECI has now decided to rectify cases where two voters have the same EPIC number. “Any case of duplicate EPIC number will be rectified by allotting a unique EPIC number. The ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to aid and assist this process,” the ECI assured.