Brief Context
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has acknowledged concerns regarding identical Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC) numbers issued to voters in different states.
Source Content
Syllabus: GS2/ Polity
Context
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has acknowledged concerns regarding identical Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC) numbers issued to voters in different states.
About
- Reports of duplicate voter ID numbers raised concerns about bogus voting and electoral fraud.
- Before ERONET, states used different systems, leading to duplicate voter entries due to migration.
- ECI is working to rectify duplicate numbers and implement ERONET 2.0 for better voter database management.
What is an EPIC Number?
- EPIC (Electors Photo Identification Card) is a 10-digit alphanumeric voter ID number issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
- Purpose:
- Proof of identity for Indian citizens aged 18+.
- Enables access to electoral services (voter status check, information updates, applications).
- Helps prevent fraudulent voting.
What is ERONET?
- ERONET (Electoral Roll Management Platform) is a web-based system ensuring a unified, accurate electoral database across India.
- Key Features:
- Centralized electoral roll for all states & UTs.
- Operates in 14 languages & 11 scripts.
- Generates Photo Similar Entries (PSE) & Demographic Similar Entries (DSE) reports.
- Reduces duplicate voter registrations caused by migration.
National Electoral Rolls Purification & Authentication Program (2015)
- Objective: Remove duplicate voter entries by linking EPIC data with Aadhaar.
- Benefits of linking:
- Ensures one voter, one vote policy.
- Enhance Transparency & Integrity.
- Clean Electoral Rolls.
- Efficient Election Management.
- Challenges in linking:
- Aadhaar Errors may lead to wrongful voter deletion.
- Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, raising concerns about non-citizens on the rolls.
- Privacy Risks from linking electoral rolls with Aadhaar data.
Way Forward
- Public Awareness: Educate voters on the benefits of EPIC-Aadhaar linking.
- Address Privacy Concerns: Assure citizens that secrecy of votes remains intact.
- Strengthen Electoral Transparency: Ensure trust and accuracy in the voting process.
Source: TH