Context:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has addressed and resolved the issue of duplicate EPIC (Elector Photo Identity Card) numbers, a problem flagged by political leaders including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. All affected voters have now been issued fresh and unique EPICs, reinforcing the credibility and integrity of the voter identification process.
What is the EPIC Number?
- A 10-digit alphanumeric code assigned to each registered voter in India
- Used to prevent impersonation and duplication
- Acts as a unique identifier for each elector
Nature of the Duplication Problem
- Allegations arose that multiple voters shared the same EPIC number
Resolution Process
- Action Taken:
- All such voters have been issued new and unique EPIC numbers
- Field-level verifications confirmed no impersonation or fraud
Key Implications
- Electoral Integrity: The issue was procedural and did not affect voting rights or results
- Database Clean-Up: Reflects a major back-end data audit across constituencies
- Political Sensitivity: Highlights the growing focus on voter list transparency and accountability
