Contaminated Actions Need Immediate Rectification Before the Next Election
In recent times, India has been grappling with allegations of serious discrepancies in the electoral process, particularly regarding Duplicate Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) and manipulation of electoral rolls. Reports and investigations have revealed instances of individuals being assigned multiple EPIC numbers, which is illegal and threatens the integrity of the election process.
For instance, a person in Maharashtra was found to possess six different EPIC numbers on the state's electoral rolls before the 2024 state elections, with five entries still active. This raises concerns about the potential for duplicate voting[1].
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has acknowledged two types of duplication:
- Same EPIC number assigned to two different people in different states, a problem identified in about 300,000 cases by early 2025 and rectified by changing EPIC numbers[2][3][5].
- One individual listed multiple times with different EPIC numbers across various locations, often due to migration and legacy issues prior to 2003 when centralized digital roll maintenance was unavailable[2][3][5].
An investigation uncovered over 5,000 dubious or duplicate voters registered in both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, including over 1,000 exact matches of voter details but with different addresses and EPIC numbers. This suggests illegal multiple registrations and poses risks of fraudulent voting[4].
The Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, has defended the ECI's efforts, stating that measures are being taken cautiously to avoid wrongful deletions during roll revisions and that the commission is committed to protecting voter rights while addressing duplication issues[2][3][5]. However, opposition parties and activists allege that these anomalies are widespread and question the Election Commission's effectiveness and independence. The ECI has challenged critics to provide concrete evidence or withdraw their allegations, emphasizing transparency and accountability in the electoral process[5].
The electoral process in India has undergone significant changes in the last three decades, with the introduction of electronic voting machines and the voter photo identity card almost ending widespread rigging. The country is anticipating a productive conversation between key players in the electoral process, with the Election Commission of India inviting leaders of political parties for an interaction to further strengthen the electoral process[6]. The political parties are encouraged to present their grievances and complaints on the shortfalls in the electoral process.
[1] [Link to source 1] [2] [Link to source 2] [3] [Link to source 3] [4] [Link to source 4] [5] [Link to source 5] [6] [Link to source 6]
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