EC to Resolve Decades-Long Duplicate Voter ID Issue in 3 Months

India's Election Commission (ECI) has promised to eradicate the long-standing issue of duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers within three months. The action will make all voters unique national EPIC numbers, enhancing transparency and electoral integrity. The duplication, which sta...

India's Election Commission (ECI) has promised to eradicate the long-standing issue of duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers within three months. The action will make all voters unique national EPIC numbers, enhancing transparency and electoral integrity. The duplication, which started from disparities when EPIC numbers were implemented in 2000, affects about 500,000 Indian voters out of the country's 99 crore electorate. Opposition parties like TMC and Congress raised eyebrows over the matter, but the EC categorically said that duplicate EPICs do not necessarily translate into bogus voters, as electors are linked to a specific polling station. The exercise will involve physical checking and correction by District Electoral Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). The EC will replace the affected voters' EPICs while ensuring future registrations follow rigid guidelines. This measure will be anticipated to enhance the accuracy of voter rolls and citizens' trust in India's electoral process. Source: India Today, Hindustan Times