The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a clarification regarding recent allegations of duplicate EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) numbers. The Commission stated that having the same EPIC number does not necessarily indicate a fake voter. While multiple voters may have the same EPIC number, they belong to different polling stations and assembly constituencies.
This statement comes after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Election Commission and the BJP of manipulating the state’s voter list by adding non-resident voters from other states. In response, the ECI has assured that each voter is allowed to vote only in the constituency where their name is officially registered.
What Are the Allegations Regarding Duplicate EPIC Numbers? Mamata Banerjee recently raised concerns that voters from other states, such as Haryana and Gujarat, have been added to West Bengal’s voter list using the same EPIC number as legitimate state residents. She claimed that:
The BJP, with the support of the Election Commission, is secretly altering voter lists to influence elections. Voters with identical EPIC numbers have been found in multiple constituencies across different states. The voter list update is being done without proper field verification, relying only on online data entry.
At a recent political event, Banerjee cited specific examples: “In Raninagar, Murshidabad, a voter’s EPIC number has been assigned to a person from Haryana. Similarly, in Gangarampur, North Bengal, a voter from Gujarat has been added using the same EPIC number as a Bengal resident.”
Election Commission’s Response: Why Do Some Voters Have the Same EPIC Number?
The Election Commission clarified that: The presence of the same EPIC number does not mean a fake voter is registered. Each voter can only cast their vote in the constituency where their name appears in the electoral roll. The Commission has launched an investigation and is taking steps to ensure that EPIC numbers remain unique to each voter in the future.
Why Should EPIC Numbers Be Unique?
Many experts argue that voter ID numbers should function like Aadhaar numbers, which are unique to every individual. However, due to technical and administrative reasons, some EPIC numbers may have been duplicated. The ECI has assured that it is working on eliminating these duplications to prevent future confusion.
Political Tensions Rise Ahead of West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026
With nearly a year left for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections, the controversy surrounding the voter list has intensified political rivalries. BJP leaders have dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s allegations, claiming that TMC is trying to cover up its declining popularity. TMC leaders insist that the BJP is manipulating the voter list with the help of the Election Commission.
As the electoral battle heats up, the authenticity of voter lists is likely to remain a major political issue in the coming months.
The Election Commission’s recent clarification aims to address concerns over voter list integrity while ensuring fair elections. However, the political debate over voter identity fraud is far from over. With assembly elections approaching, the issue of duplicate EPIC numbers could become a key election agenda in West Bengal.