A new controversy targeting the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPICs) has sparked new tremor in Indian politics. There are several allegations that duplicate numbers were being allotted to some voters, raising some serious concerns.



What's the matter?

According to some sources there were several claims and allegations that many electors got EPICs containing same numbers as of some other electors, resulting in allotment of Duplicate EPIC number.




Allegations & Answers.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee led TMC has come forward and accused ECI of a "Scam" alleging it as deliberate and politically motivated.

On Mar-07, 2025 the ECI comes with a notification no ECI/PN/191/2025 and accepted its mistake on Duplicate EPICs, but at the same time gave some explanation to support Its stand and also gave assurance to make it correct within 3months.

Stand of ECI

  • Though there are duplicate EPICs, but it can't be termed as fake
  • Irrespective of a duplicate EPIC number, an elector can cast his vote at the particular linked polling station only and nowhere else.
  • ECI will provide unique nationwide EPIC number to Duplicate holders.

Let's Understand the situation.
  • In 2000 States/ UTs were allotted EPIC series to handle.
  • States/ UTs were independently managing the Electoral Database.
  • Manual Data entry was done at most level for registration
  • Different types of software from Excel to Oracle were used by different States to manage database.
  • Due to more human intervention and manual data entries, some ERO didn't use the correct EPIC series.
  • Due to independent database management by States/ UTs, issue of Duplicate EPICs could not have been detected and addressed on time
  • to resolve this ECI came up with a solution of ERONET in 2017 and UNPER.
  • ERONET - web based solution to automate the process.
  • UNPER a common database for all States/ UTs.

Questions remained unanswered...
  1. In the digital era if we are not capable enough to avoid issue of Duplicate EPIC, How can we stop fraud and illegal immigrant from taking multiple EPIC IDs.
  2. If we can't stop issue of Duplicate EPIC IDs, how can we stop people from getting Multiple EPIC IDs.
Final words : India needs high reforms in Electoral System especially when it comes to the process for issue and generation of EPIC IDs and database management of Electors. Also, the situation triggers one more question “has the time come to link every EPIC Ids with Aadhar to remove duplicates & multiple EPIC IDs ?”

Stay tuned for more updates.....

#DuplicateEPIC    #DuplicateVoterIDs    #DuplicateVoterCard    #ElectionCommissionofIndia    #MamataBanerjee    #ElectionScam