Election Commission (EC) has addressed concerns raised on social media and in media reports about electors in different states having identical EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) numbers. It clarified that while some electors may share the same EPIC number due to past manual data entry practices, their demographic details, polling booths, and Assembly Constituencies remain distinct. The issue arose before the transition to the ERONET platform, when some State/UT Chief Electoral Offices assigned the same alphanumeric EPIC series to different voters. However, an elector can only vote in their designated constituency, ensuring no duplication in voting. To resolve this, the EC will implement a system to assign unique EPIC numbers to all registered voters. Any existing duplicate EPIC numbers will be corrected, and the ERONET 2.0 platform will support this rectification process.
Election Commission
EC clarifies that duplication in EPIC number does not imply duplicate/fake voters
Some cases of duplicate EPIC numbers caused by use of identical alphanumeric series by two different States/UTs
EC to ensure allotment of unique EPIC number to registered electors
Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 12:52PM by PIB Delhi
The Election Commission has taken cognizance of certain social media posts and media reports flagging the issue of electors of two different states having identical EPIC numbers. In this regard, it is 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.
The allotment of identical EPIC number/series to some electors from different States/UTs was due to a decentralized and manual mechanism being followed prior to shifting of the electoral roll database of all States/UTs to the ERONET platform. This resulted in certain State/UT CEO offices 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 in different States/UTs.
However, to allay any apprehensions, the Commission has decided to ensure allotment of unique EPIC number to registered electors. Any case of 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.
