Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 12 February 2024
In a bid to bolster efforts against electoral fraud, the Election Commission of India (ECI) initiated the introduction of Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) back in 1993. Over time, recognising the need for continual improvement amidst technological advancements, the Commission has decided to enhance the quality, security features, and specifications of these cards.
Following the ECI’s directive, a new iteration of EPIC with advanced security features has been rolled out in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands since the last Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Roll in 2023. The upgraded EPIC cards boast enhancements in various aspects including size, thickness, hologram, Micro text, Ghost image, Guilloche pattern, and QR code.
Eligibility for receiving these new EPIC cards extends to electors who registered during the Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Roll in 2023, in revisions 2, 3, 4 of continuation updation, and in the final revision of 2024.
The distribution process of the printed EPICs is facilitated through the Postal Department to ensure smooth and secure delivery to enrolled electors. To streamline this process, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Postal Department of the region.
Currently, out of a total of 11,586 EPICs handed over to the Postal Department, approximately 9,000 have been successfully distributed to electors. Additionally, 10,720 EPICs pertaining to electors registered during the Special Summary Revision of photo electoral roll in 2024 are printed and expected to be received from the printer soon. These will subsequently be handed over to the Postal Department for swift delivery to eligible electors, scheduled for the coming week.
In preparation for the forthcoming General Election to Lok Sabha-2024, Mr. B S Jaglan, IAS, the Chief Electoral Officer of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, will convene a meeting with the Postal Department on February 12, 2024. The meeting, to be held in his chamber at the Secretariat of the A&N Administration in Port Blair, aims to strategise and ensure the expeditious delivery of EPIC cards to electors.