Electors Photo Identity Card Number

Electors Photo Identity Card Number

Why in the News?

The Chief Minister of West Bengal has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of enabling voter duplication by assigning the same Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers to multiple voters across different states. In response, the ECI denied any electoral malpractice, attributing the issue to errors in legacy data prior to the implementation of ERONET (Electoral Roll Management System).

What is an EPIC Number?

• About: The EPIC number, introduced in 1993 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, is a 10-digit alphanumeric voter ID issued by the ECI to each registered voter. Its purpose is to prevent voter impersonation and electoral fraud.
• Issuance and Digital Management: The EPIC number is generated through ERONET, a web-based platform used by election officials to manage voter registration, migration, and deletion of names from electoral rolls. ERONET automates the process in multiple languages and scripts.
• Importance: The EPIC number serves as a unique identifier, linking a voter to their photo, constituency, and polling station. Any mismatch in EPIC records could result in voter disenfranchisement or manipulation.

EPIC Duplication Issue:

The ECI acknowledged that duplicate EPIC numbers occurred due to manual data entry and decentralized systems before ERONET was introduced.

ECI's Stance on the EPIC Issue:
The ECI clarified that EPIC numbers alone do not determine voting eligibility. Voters can only vote at their registered polling station. Even if EPIC numbers are identical, other details such as demographic information, polling booths, and constituencies are unique across states. The ECI assured that with the upcoming update to ERONET 2.0, duplicate EPIC numbers would be eliminated.

Electronic Voting Machine (EVM):
The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is used to electronically record and tally votes during elections. The Indian EVM, also known as ECI-EVM, consists of a Ballot Unit (BU), Control Unit (CU), and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system, which was added later.

• The Control Unit (CU) is operated by polling officials, while the Ballot Unit (BU) is where voters cast their votes.
• The VVPAT system is linked to the EVMs, allowing voters to verify that their vote has been properly recorded.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs):
Mains:
Q. In light of recent controversies regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what challenges does the Election Commission of India face in ensuring the trustworthiness of elections in India? (2018)

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