Handbook for Electoral Registration Officers - Election Commission ...

21.In cases where EPIC has been issued to an elector and the elector has requested forcorrections in the details mentioned, this request of the elector should be made inForm 8 for carrying out the requested changes. Under these circumstances, theEPIC, with the requested modifications should be issued after acceptance of Form 8under the same EPIC number in which the previous EPIC was issued. In the newEPIC, the word “DUPLICATE” should not be printed on the EPIC.22. If the elector claims that the EPIC issued earlier is lost, a declaration to this effectshould be obtained from him. The EPIC should be issued to him with the samedetails with which the previous EPIC was issued, including the EPIC number. In thenew EPIC, the word “DUPLICATE” should be printed on the EPIC.23. While a new EPIC is issued, the Commission has prescribed a nominal fee of Rs.25.00 to be levied so that there is some deterrence for repeated request for issue ofEPIC. This fee is not charged,a. during issue of first EPICb. when an EPIC has an error that can be attributed to the electoral machinery.c. when the EPIC is lost with loss of property during natural calamities likeflood, cyclone earthquake etc.24. Since the first issue of EPIC is free and EPIC, once issued, is valid for lifetimeanywhere in the country, there is no situation where an elector would be compelledto pay this fee for the purpose of establishing identity during election. In caseswhere the elector is issued an EPIC due to change of address or other particulars onhis request or after rectifying details that had appeared incorrectly, the old EPIC ofthe elector must be taken in the custody of the ERO. Under no circumstances shouldthe elector posses to EPICs. Proper publicity should be made to ensure that electorshaving more than two EPICs surrender all but one EPIC to the ERO.Importance of maintaining and preserving EPIC Database25. It has been directed by the Election Commission of India that the EPIC details,including photograph, shall be stored in the same database as that of the ElectoralRoll and the EPIC should be generated from this common database. This is to ensurethat the linkage between the Electoral Roll and EPIC is not lost and the detailsprinted on the EPIC are same as that in the Electoral Rolls. The structure of theEPIC Details table is as shown in Annexure 9.2.26. Once the name of an elector is deleted from the electoral rolls, his name should notbe deleted from the electoral roll database completely but should be transferred to aseparate table for deleted electors. If the elector has shifted to another location, thedetails can be transferred once a request comes from that ERO consequent to theapplication for inclusion of the individual.Important points relevant to EPIC27. All efforts have to be made to ensure universality, uniqueness and permanence ofEPIC details of an elector. The link between the details of electors and their EPIC76