EC to Remove Duplicate Voter ID Numbers

EC to Remove Duplicate Voter ID Numbers

Sub: Polity

Sec: Elections

Context:

• The Election Commission (EC) has decided to remove all duplicate voter ID numbers to ensure each voter gets a unique Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number.
• The move comes after reports that some electors in one State have voter ID numbers matching those issued in another State.

Key Highlights of EC’s Clarification

• A person can vote only at the designated polling station in the constituency where they are enrolled, irrespective of the EPIC number.
• While some electors may have identical EPIC numbers, other details such as demographic information, Assembly constituency, and polling booth are different.

Reason for Duplication

• The duplication resulted from the earlier decentralised and manual mechanism used before the electoral roll database was shifted to the ERONET platform.
• Some State and UT Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) offices used the same EPIC alphanumeric series, leading to duplicate numbers being allotted in different Assembly Constituencies across different States and UTs.

Role of ERONET

• ERONET (Electoral Roll Management System): A web-based platform developed for election officials to manage registration, migration, and deletion of names in the electoral rolls.
• It is available in multiple languages and scripts to streamline voter registration and verification.

Steps Taken by EC

• To eliminate duplicate EPIC numbers, the ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to assist in this process.
• The commission has assured that any duplicate EPIC number will be rectified, and a unique number will be allotted to each voter.

Voter Card (Elector Photo Identity Card – EPIC)

• The Voter ID card (EPIC) is a 10-digit unique identification number issued by the Election Commission of India to eligible voters.
• It serves as an identity proof for voting in elections and is linked to a specific constituency and polling booth.
• Earlier, due to a manual and decentralised system, some electors in different States/UTs were assigned identical EPIC numbers, leading to duplication.

Electoral Roll (Voter List)

• The electoral roll is an official list of registered voters in a specific constituency.
• It includes demographic details, polling station, and EPIC number of each voter.
• ERONET (Electoral Roll Management System) is a digital platform used by the EC for managing voter registration, migration, and deletion.

Conclusion

• The EC’s move aims to enhance the integrity of the electoral system by ensuring a unique EPIC number for every voter.
• The decision comes amid political allegations, but the commission has reaffirmed that voting rights are linked to a person’s designated polling station and not just the EPIC number.