EC says it will ensure allotment of unique EPIC number to registered electors amid duplicate voter ID row

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Sunday said it will ensure allotment of unique numbers for Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to registered voters, after instances of issuance of voter cards with identical numbers in different states triggered a controversy.

The EC’s decision came after media reports and social media posts flagged concerns about identical EPIC numbers found in West Bengal and other states. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had alleged the presence of fake and outsider voters in the state that will go to Assembly polls next year.

The poll body made it clear that having identical numbers would not lead to a voter being able to exercise his franchise in a different state.

In a statement, the EC “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 the 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 their State/UT where they are enrolled in the electoral roll and nowhere else," he said.

The allotment of identical EPIC number or series to some electors from different states and union territories was "due to a decentralised and manual mechanism" being followed prior to shifting of the electoral roll database to the ERONET (Electoral Roll Management) platform, it said.

This resulted in CEO offices in certain states and union territories 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, it said.

"However, to allay any apprehensions, the Commission has decided to ensure allotment of a unique EPIC number to registered electors. Any case of a duplicate EPIC number will be rectified by allotting a unique EPIC number. The ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to aid and assist in this process," it said.

Last Thursday, Mamata accused the BJP of manipulating the electoral rolls with the blessings of the EC and enrolling people from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat as electors in West Bengal. She also asked her party leaders to find out the "ghost voters" within ten days.