{"id":157607,"date":"2025-03-04T19:28:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T13:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=157607"},"modified":"2025-03-04T19:28:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T13:58:42","slug":"ec-action-on-duplicate-voter-id","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/ec-action-on-duplicate-voter-id","title":{"rendered":"EC Action on Duplicate Voter ID Numbers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reports surfaced about <\/span><b>electors from different States receiving identical Voter ID (EPIC) numbers.<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> Election Commission of India (ECI)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> clarified that a voter can only cast their vote at their designated polling station.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Commission assured that all voters would receive a unique EPIC number to prevent duplications.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-157580 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/45-67c6fc4c6f712.webp\" alt=\"Duplicate Voter ID\" width=\"354\" height=\"262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/45-67c6fc4c6f712.webp 767w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/45-67c6fc4c6f712-300x222.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>EPIC (Electors Photo Identification Card)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a 10-digit alphanumeric number assigned to each registered voter by the ECI.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is used for identification during elections but does not grant voting rights outside the designated constituency.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Election Commission\u2019s Role in Voter List Management<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>ECI ensures free and fair elections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by preventing electoral fraud and duplication.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ECI is responsible for <\/span><b>maintaining, updating, and ensuring the accuracy of the electoral roll.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Voter registration, migration, and deletion <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of names are managed through the<\/span><b> ERONET platform.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>e-EPIC<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">e-EPIC is a secure portable document format (PDF) version of the EPIC which can be downloaded on mobile or in a self-printable form on the computer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">\u00a0A voter can thus store the card on his\/her mobile, upload it as a PDF on Digi locker or print it and self-laminate it.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">This is in addition to PCV EPIC being issued currently.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About ERONET<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>ERONET (Electoral Roll Management System)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a <\/span><b>web-based solution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> developed for election officials to handle voter registration, migration, and deletion processes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It replaces <\/span><b>disparate state-specific applications<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a <\/span><b>single unified database<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (UNPER) covering <\/span><b>95+ crore electors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across all States and UTs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensures <\/span><b>accurate electoral rolls<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by preventing <\/span><b>duplicate and multiple entries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of voters.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Key Features of ERONET<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Unified National Database<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> : Single database for all States\/UTs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Multi-language Support<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Works in <\/span><b>14 languages and 11 scripts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Integration with Multiple Platforms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Accepts voter forms via <\/span><b>Voter Helpline App, BLO App, and Voter Portal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Automated Form Processing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Standardizes registration, verification, and electoral roll printing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>PSE and DSE Reports<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Uses <\/span><b>AI to detect Photo Similar Entries (PSE) &#038; Demographic Similar Entries (DSE)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for refining voter lists.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Performance Monitoring<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> : Tracks form progress and provides analytical reports for decision-making.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supports Electoral Laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Aligns with the <\/span><b>Representation of the People Act, 1950<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring electoral roll accuracy before elections.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Issue of Duplicate EPIC Numbers<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some electors from different States were assigned identical EPIC numbers, leading to <\/span><b>concerns over voter duplication.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The issue <\/span><b>arose due to the decentralized manual system <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">used before the adoption of the ERONET platform.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This led to certain <\/span><b>State\/UT CEO offices issuing the same EPIC alphanumeric series, causing duplicate numbers.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>ECI&#8217;s Response and Measures<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> ERONET 2.0 platform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will be updated<\/span><b> to ensure unique EPIC numbers for all voters.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any existing duplicate EPIC numbers will be rectified with new unique identifiers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Despite identical EPIC numbers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each<\/span><b> voter can only vote in their registered constituency <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as per the electoral roll.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; 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