Answer

The Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is a crucial document issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to prevent voter fraud and ensure free and fair elections. However, recent allegations of duplicate EPIC numbers across states have raised concerns about the integrity of electoral rolls. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the ECI deleted over 1.66 crore duplicate voter entries.

Recent concerns over duplication of Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers

• Allegations of fake voters: Opposition parties have raised concerns about the inclusion of bogus voters in electoral rolls, alleging that such practices could manipulate election outcomes.
• Identical EPIC numbers across states: Reports indicate that voters in states like West Bengal, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab share identical EPIC numbers, raising concerns over potential electoral discrepancies.
• Shift from decentralised to centralised EPIC database: The EC attributed duplication to the earlier decentralized EPIC issuance and introduced a centralized system, to resolve the issue.
  For example: The ERONET platform, implemented by the EC, is designed to detect and eliminate duplicate voter IDs by maintaining a unified national database.
• Impact on electoral trust: The discovery of identical EPIC numbers has raised public concerns about the accuracy of electoral rolls and the transparency of the voting process.

Key Issues Impacting the Electoral Process

• Manipulation of electoral rolls: Allegations of fake voter entries create doubts about the fairness of elections and raise concerns about the transparency of voter registration.
  For example: Opposition parties have, at times, alleged that voter lists were manipulated to gain an electoral advantage, leading to demands for stricter verification mechanisms.
• EVM and VVPAT concerns: The demand for 100% VVPAT-EVM matching has been debated, with authorities maintaining that existing verification processes are sufficient. However, some concerns over EVM reliability persist.
  For example: The Supreme Court in ADR v. Election Commission of India Case, 2024, upheld the Election Commission’s practice of verifying a limited percentage of VVPAT slips, rejecting calls for full matching in the 2019 and 2024 general elections.
• Unregulated election expenditure: Unlike Election Candidates, the absence of a strict spending cap on political parties has led to concerns about excessive election funding and potential misuse of resources
  For example: In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, various political parties collectively spent approximately ₹1.35 lakh crore.
• Criminalisation of politics: A significant number of elected representatives have declared criminal cases, raising concerns about governance and ethical leadership.
  For example: Following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 46% (251 out of 543) of the newly elected MPs had criminal cases registered against them.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations: Political campaigns often witness allegations of hate speech, communal appeals, and personal attacks, leading to concerns about deteriorating electoral discourse.
  For instance: The ECI can issue notices and temporarily ban candidates from campaigning, it lacks judicial enforcement powers, limiting its ability to impose stricter penalties.

Necessary reforms needed for free and fair elections

• Strengthen voter ID verification: The removal of duplicate EPIC numbers and ensuring unique voter identification through a transparent verification process is essential.
  For example: The EC’s initiative to centralize electoral rolls via ERONET is a step toward eliminating duplicate voter IDs.
• Enhance EVM transparency: Increase the sample size of VVPAT verification, ensuring that even a single discrepancy leads to a full recount in that region.
  For example: The 2016 EC recommendation to use totaliser machines for aggregated counting would improve secrecy and reduce booth-level intimidation.
• Regulate election spending: Impose expenditure limits on political parties, ensuring that financial assistance to candidates is within prescribed limits.
  For example: The Representation of the People Act, 1951 should be amended to include strict caps on party election expenditure.
• Disclose criminal records widely: Candidates should be required to publicly declare criminal cases multiple times before elections through newspapers and electronic media.
  For example: The Supreme Court’s 2024 directive reiterated the Lok Parhari v UOI, 2015 ruling which mandated that candidates should disclose criminal records at least three times before polls.
• Strict action on MCC violations: The EC should be empowered to revoke a leader’s Star Campaigner status if they repeatedly violate MCC norms.
  For example: Under Paragraph 16A of the Symbols Order, the EC can suspend or withdraw recognition of a party failing to follow MCC.

Strengthening electoral integrity requires a tech-driven, transparent, and accountable approach. Implementing blockchain-based voter verification, integrating Aadhaar with EPIC while ensuring privacy, and enhancing AI-driven deduplication can eliminate discrepancies. A robust grievance redressal mechanism and stricter enforcement of electoral laws will fortify democracy, ensuring that every vote counts, and no vote is duplicated in India’s electoral process.

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