Elector's Photo Identity Card - Essential Details and Process

1. E – Electors P – Photo I - Identity C - Card

2. is is Has details like • Permanent document for an elector • Used at time of polls • Compulsory to present at time of election Identity card issued by ERO under rule 28, RER Name Father’s name Date of Birth Address EPIC

3. Size of EPIC is fixed by ECI 8.4 cm 5 cm Size of photo is fixed by ECI • Photo should have 320x240 pixels and light background • 75% of the photo area should be covered with full front face Form of EPIC Size of EPIC Other important points • Details like name, father’s/mother’s name, etc should be derived from Electoral Roll database • The date of birth on EPIC should be derived from Form 6 • If date of birth is not available or not mentioned , then year of birth should be calculated from age and only that should be mentioned in EPIC • EPIC has security hologram pasted half on photo and half on vacant space • The reverse side of EPIC has address and signature of ERO issuing the EPIC • Paper used for EPIC should not be less than 165 GSM as per ECI Photo

4. Preparation and Issuing of EPIC Collection of completed Form 6 or Photograph of electors Form 6 entry and/or Digitization of photos and preparing data base with photos Entry in Photo Electoral Roll Generating EPIC numbers • ERO/DEO/CEO identify vendors and provide them with space for preparation of EPICs under supervision of ERO General Procedure for EPIC preparation

5. DPLs Collection of Photographs Receiving photos onsite mode • There are enough Designated Photography Locations (DPL)in each AC/District to collect photos on site • The DPLs are provided adequate security and activities are carried out under supervision of ERO • The DPLs must have necessary infrastructure for photography, computerized preparation of EPIC, etc Form 8 Receiving photos offsite mode Photos can be collected through duly filled Form 8 and scanned for the purpose ERO may conduct campaigns of house to house visit to collect the photos

6. Digitization of photos and preparing database and entry in Electoral Roll • Images received from the electors are digitalized in the computers • The digitalized data is then merged with the corresponding details in the Electoral Roll • To acquire EPIC the concerned elector will have to be first registered in the Electoral Roll • In case of new registration the two process of collecting photo and entering the details in the Electoral Roll can be done simultaneously • Photograph and EPIC details are to be stored in same database as that of Electoral Rolls – EPIC is produced from the Elector database

7. EPIC Number EPIC number has to be a unique seven digit code for each elector The first three are the alphabetical codes called FUSN (Functional Unique Serial Number) FUSN is provided by ECI and is unique for every AC Numerical Digits after FUSN are 6 serial numbers followed by one digit of checksum Generating EPIC numbers

8. Merging and Generating EPIC details Process of merging and generating the EPIC details with Rolls can be done anywhere if secure access is provided to the elector database on the network EPIC number is not changed if a duplicate EPIC is issued with ro without corrections New EPIC numbers should be generated with the FUSN of the concerned AC and unique seven digit number for each new elector Software for EPIC generation does not allow the repetition of the number EPIC should be printed using the software provided by ECI from central database. This obviates the need of distributing blocks of EPIC numbers to vendors and ensures the uniqueness of EPIC numbers Generating EPIC numbers

9. Security hologram The security hologram is a sticker of 2.0 cm diameter pasted half on the photo and half on the vacant space on the left of the photo before lamination It should be serial numbered and carry National Emblem in the center Proper account of hologram should be maintained by the ERO, and should receive back the unused hologram Holograms should be sent to the vendor during the preparation of EPIC and the remaining number of holograms should be tallied with numbers given and EPICs issued Security Holograms

10. The reverse side of the EPIC has address of the electors and facsimile signature of the ERO issuing the EPIC the facsimile signature of ERO should be kept in secure custody The EPIC is laminated and handed over to the concerned elector Acknowledgment and receipt should be taken from the elector EPIC once issued to the elector is valid across the country irrespective of the Assembly Constituency it was issued in. The purpose of EPIC is to identify the elector with name in the Electoral Roll Other important points

11. Different scenarios related to EPIC issuance 1. Issuing EPIC to the applicants on enrollment in the electoral roll for the first time Eligibility for enrollment needs to be checked. A person is enrolled only is eligible and EPIC is issued only after enrollment Electors must fill Part IV of Form 6 to ensure that he is not enrolled as some other place as well

12. 2. Issuing EPIC to the applicants claiming to be registered as electors but have not received EPIC Declaration should be taken from these electors claiming of non receipt of EPIC even after registering Applicant should be informed that false declaration is punishable under Section 31 and holding two EPICs is illegal under law Verification should be done that no EPIC is issued to the applicant, by checking the Constituency based on his previous address Different scenarios related to EPIC issuance

13. 3. Issuing EPIC to the applicants who have shifted to new place of residence Details of the elector including photographs, should be obtained from the database of the Constituency of his previous place of residence In case of non traceable address, EPIC should not be issued and the applicant should be informed to give correct details of the address After obtaining the correct details and complete verification of the same, new EPIC with the same EPIC number but corrected elector details including correct address should be issued with “DUPLICATE” written on it Duplicate EPIC is issued on payment of a fee of Rs 25. Different scenarios related to EPIC issuance

14. 4. Issuing EPIC to the applicants requesting corrections Applicant should apply in Form 8 Corrected EPIC should be issued after acceptance of Form 8 and same EPIC number The word “Duplicate” should not be printed on it 5. Issuing EPIC to the applicants who have lost the earlier EPIC A declaration should be received from the applicant in this case A new EPIC with the same details and same EPIC number should be issued, but with word “DUPLICATE” written on it Different scenarios related to EPIC issuance

15. Issuing fee A nominal fee of Rs. 25 is charged on request of duplicate EPIC to avoid repeated request The fee is not charged during issue of first EPIC when the EPIC has error due to Electoral machinery when EPIC is lost in natural calamity Other important points In cases of changes to be made in EPIC, the old EPIC of the elector must be returned to the ERO Electors to be educated that EPIC number is best way of searching their name in the roll and proving their identity at polling station Electors should be made aware that EPIC is only an identity document and does not give a right to vote Other important points

16. EPIC Table in the Electoral Roll Database As per ECI, EPIC details should be stored in the same database as that of Electoral Roll to maintain the link between the details in Electoral Roll and EPIC EPIC should be generated from electoral roll database and the data which is printed on the EPIC is stored in the EPIC table Structure of EPIC Details - Annexure 9.2