ECI to resolve duplicate EPIC issue for Sikkim's 4.69 lakh voters in three months

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced plans to resolve the issue of duplicate Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers within the next three months. This move aims to ensure a unique national EPIC number for all electors, including Sikkim's 4,69,925 registered voters. The electoral roll update process in Sikkim is conducted under the supervision of the District Election Officer (DEO) and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), with active participation from the public and political parties.

According to the ECI, India's electoral rolls are the largest voter database globally, with over 99 crore registered electors. The issue of duplicate EPIC numbers arose due to incorrect allotment by some Electoral Registration Officers since 2000. A sample enquiry revealed that electors with duplicate numbers are genuine voters. However, the problem remained undetected as States and Union Territories managed electoral roll databases independently.

The Commission has now decided to standardize the EPIC numbering system nationwide. The upcoming changes will not affect voting rights, as an elector can only cast their vote at their designated polling station.

Moreover, the ECI reiterated its commitment to electoral roll transparency. The 2025 Special Summary Revision (SSR) was conducted between October and December 2024, with final rolls published in January 2025. The process involved Booth Level Officers (BLOs), political parties, and public participation to ensure accuracy.

Voters can check the final electoral rolls on the ECI website (https://voters.eci.gov.in/download-eroll) and raise objections through a structured appeal process.