GUWAHATI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that it will address the issue of duplicate Voter ID card numbers within the next three months by ensuring a unique national Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC) number for all voters.
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According to a press release dated Friday, March 7, the ECI stated that a sample inquiry of over 100 electors revealed that those with duplicate EPIC numbers were genuine voters. It attributed the issue to some Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) failing to use the correct series since the allotment of EPIC numbers in 2000.
The commission also noted that states and union territories had been managing electoral roll databases independently, which prevented the detection of such duplication.
Additionally, the poll body assured that moving forward, all existing voters with duplicate EPIC numbers, as well as future voters, will be assigned a unique national EPIC number. The ECI also emphasised that irrespective of the EPIC number, an elector can vote only at their designated polling station.
The announcement follows allegations by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regarding the issuance of duplicate EPIC numbers. The party was quick to respond, claiming that the ECI had "admitted and accepted their guilt."
TMC MP Saket Gokhale criticised the ECI’s explanation, calling it “feeble and duplicitous.” He questioned why the commission failed to address the issue earlier and demanded details on the number of duplicate EPICs.
