Latest news with #ElectorPhotoIdentityCards
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Voters to get EPICs within 15 days of electoral roll update
New Delhi: In a move to enhance voter convenience, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that will ensure Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) are delivered within 15 days of any update in the electoral rolls. The reform is part of a series of citizen-centric measures being rolled out by the ECI under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi. The initiative is geared towards minimising delays, enhancing transparency, and delivering efficient, timely, and trackable voter services. Under the new SOP, the entire process -- from the generation of the EPIC by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to its delivery at the voter's doorstep -- will be digitally tracked. Voters will receive real-time SMS updates at every stage of the delivery process. To support this, the ECI has deployed a dedicated IT module within its recently launched ECINet platform, replacing the older system and reengineering the workflow to increase operational efficiency. The Department of Posts (DoP) will continue to handle the physical delivery of EPICs.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Voter ID cards to reach within 15 days: Election Commission rolls out fast-track delivery system
Election Commission of India NEW DELHI: In a major step towards improving voter services, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) are delivered within 15 days of any update in the electoral rolls. This includes newly enrolled voters or existing electors who have requested changes in their details. Currently, it takes a little over a month for EPICs to reach voters. The revamped system, launched under the guidance of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, is designed to enhance service delivery with real-time tracking from card generation to delivery via the Department of Posts (DoP). Voters will also receive SMS updates at every step of the process, keeping them informed about their EPIC status. As part of this initiative, the ECI has launched a dedicated IT module on its new ECINet platform, which integrates with the DoP's system through an Application Programme Interface (API). This will streamline workflow, replace the existing manual tracking process, and strengthen data security. Officials say the move is part of the Commission's broader push over the past four months to make electoral services faster and more accessible for voters across the country.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Voters to get EPICs within 15 days of electoral roll update: ECI
New Delhi: In a move to enhance voter convenience, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that will ensure Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) are delivered within 15 days of any update in the electoral rolls. The reform is part of a series of citizen-centric measures being rolled out by the ECI under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi. The initiative is geared towards minimising delays, enhancing transparency, and delivering efficient, timely, and trackable voter services. Under the new SOP, the entire process -- from the generation of the EPIC by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to its delivery at the voter's doorstep -- will be digitally tracked. Voters will receive real-time SMS updates at every stage of the delivery process. To support this, the ECI has deployed a dedicated IT module within its recently launched ECINet platform, replacing the older system and reengineering the workflow to increase operational efficiency. The Department of Posts (DoP) will continue to handle the physical delivery of EPICs. For seamless coordination and real-time visibility, the DoP's Application Programming Interface (API) will be integrated with the ECINet platform, enabling smooth data exchange and status tracking. This initiative not only ensures quicker delivery but also reinforces the Commission's commitment to data security and integrity. Every update made in the electoral roll -- whether through online submission or physical forms -- will now automatically trigger the EPIC generation and dispatch workflow. 'Providing prompt and efficient electoral services to voters is a top priority for the Commission,' an ECI statement said, adding that the overhaul reflects the Commission's renewed focus on digital transformation and voter-first policies. Over the past four months, the Election Commission has launched several initiatives to modernise and simplify electoral services. This latest SOP is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and boost voter satisfaction.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Issue of duplicate voter IDs resolved in several states
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has resolved all instances of duplicate Voter ID cards ( Elector Photo Identity Cards, EPICs) across several states, according to the people familiar with the matter. Such duplicate EPICs were identified by state, corrected, and then reissued, ECI officials asking not to be named said. While the cards have new numbers they also include the old EPIC numbers, in a bid to avoid any confusion where old numbers might still be referenced, the officials added. 'This was a legacy issue. Approximately , 300,000 EPICs have been rectified; 75% of these duplicates were issued before 2008 in a specific alphanumeric series. We have ensured that voters received the new cards and haver completed the process well before our three-month deadline of June,' one of them said. The issue came to light in March, when opposition parties including the Trinamool Congress flagged the issue, accusing ECI of voter fraud and manipulation. The commission responded by clarifying that 'duplicate EPICs did not imply fake voters', adding that voters can only vote at the polling station in which they are registered, regardless of the EPIC number. Officials explained the way some EPICs across states sported identical numbers. 'Before all state electoral roll databases were shifted to ERONET–a web-based platform used to manage electoral roll data–many states conducted these operations manually and in a decentralised manner. As a result, some states used the same alphanumeric series, leading to duplication,' the first official added. To be sure, the ECI is yet to address the issue of so-called repeat EPICs– where multiple voter ID cards have been given to the same elector, officials said. Sources said the Commission currently uses systems based on Demographically Similar Entries (DSEs) and Photographically Similar Entries (PSEs) to detect potential duplicates. DSEs match voter details such as name, relation name and type, age, and gender, while PSEs analyse photographs. 'Both DSEs and PSEs are identified using deep learning technology within the ERONET platform. These can be used to detect and delete duplicates within or across constituencies in a state. However, the process is extremely time-consuming and has not been carried out on a pan-India scale due to scalability challenges,' a second ECI official said.
