Election Commission Clarifies Duplicate Voter ID Numbers Do Not Indicate Fake Voters

The ECI attributes duplicate EPIC numbers to outdated systems and pledges to issue unique IDs using an updated platform.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that duplicate EPIC numbers do not imply the presence of fake or duplicate voters.
The issue arose from the use of a decentralized and manual system before transitioning to the ERONET platform, leading to identical voter ID numbers in different states or constituencies.
The ECI emphasized that voters can only cast ballots at their designated polling stations within their registered constituencies, regardless of EPIC number duplication.
To address concerns, the ECI has announced plans to assign unique EPIC numbers to all registered voters and to update the ERONET 2.0 platform to assist in this process.
The clarification follows public concerns and political accusations, including claims by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging electoral manipulation.