Duplicate voter card issue to be addressed in 3 months: ECI

Amid a fresh debate over the sanctity of electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said it will address the long pending issue in the next three months.

The ECI said a "unique national EPIC number" will be allotted to the existing electors having a duplicate EPIC number and for future electors as well. It also revealed data showing that only 90 appeals (on addition/deletion of electors) were filed by Block Level Agents of political parties across states on electoral rolls during the Special Summary Revision 2025.

There was not a single appeal filed in West Bengal where Trinamool Congress has alleged major voter roll fraud citing duplicate EPIC entries. In fact, all 90 appeals were filed in Maharashtra - 89 were cases of first appeal with the District Magistrate/District Election Officer. Only one second appeal was filed before the Chief Electoral Officer, also in Maharashtra and it was rejected, it is learnt. The ECI also reiterated that it has already taken cognisance of the EPIC duplication matter and underlined that "irrespective of an EPIC number, an elector who is linked to the electoral roll of a particular polling station can cast his vote at that polling station only and nowhere else".