Election card numbers can be same, but vote only at booth unique to each card

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has dismissed allegations of electoral roll manipulation, stating that duplicate Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers do not indicate "fake or duplicate voters". The clarification comes amid concerns raised on social media and by opposition leaders regarding identical EPIC numbers assigned to voters in different states.

In a statement on Sunday, the poll body explained that the duplication of EPIC numbers could have resulted from the use of the same alphanumeric series by different states before the adoption of a centralised system.

"The Election Commission has taken cognisance of certain social media posts and media reports flagging the issue of electors of different states having identical EPIC numbers. In this regard, it is clarified that while EPIC numbers of some of the electors may be identical, the other details, including demographic details, Assembly Constituency, and polling booth, are different for the electors with the same EPIC number," the ECI stated.