ECI complicity in voter ID duplication “not a ‘minor clerical error’”: Derek O’Brien

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) plans to address the issue of voter ID number duplication during the second half of Parliament's budget session, commencing Monday, 10 March.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien has criticised the Election Commission's (EC) explanations regarding these duplications, labeling them as a "cover-up."

He emphasised that, according to EC guidelines, it is impossible for two voter ID cards to share the same number, suggesting that such duplications may indicate broader issues of voter suppression.

In a recent press conference, O'Brien, alongside TMC MPs Kirti Azad and Sagarika Ghose, accused the EC of "fraud" over the duplication of voter card numbers in electoral rolls, the Times of India reported.

They demanded that the EC acknowledge the error within 24 hours and commit to rectifying the rolls within 100 days. The TMC has indicated that failure to address these concerns promptly will lead them to disclose additional documents to expose the alleged discrepancies.

The party leaders have said while the Election Commission of India (EC) has admitted the error, it is not accepting it. The TMC has also sought an in-depth probe into the matter.

O’Brien stressed that it is not a “minor clerical error”.

“Another issue that is bound to play out on the floor of Parliament is the Election Commission of India’s alleged involvement in voter ID duplication. This is not a minor clerical error, it is a serious matter having a bearing on free and fair elections,” he said.

“Why is the EC still unable to ensure unique EPIC numbers for every voter?” he said.

O’Brien said many parties in the Opposition have conveyed their preference to take up the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the home ministry before any other.

West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had previously raised concerns about this issue at the state level. She accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of adding fake voters from "Haryana and Gujarat" to the electoral rolls in West Bengal, allegedly with the backing of the Election Commission.

In response to these allegations, the Election Commission clarified that the presence of duplicate Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers does not necessarily indicate the existence of fake voters. The EC explained that such duplications could result from procedural errors or data management issues and assured that corrective measures are being implemented to address the discrepancies.

Despite the EC's clarification, the TMC remains skeptical and is pushing for a more thorough investigation into the matter. The party's decision to raise this issue in Parliament underscores its commitment to ensuring electoral integrity and transparency, particularly in light of the upcoming elections.

The party seeks to hold the EC accountable and to prompt corrective measures to maintain public trust in the electoral process. This move also highlights the TMC's broader concerns about potential voter suppression and the need for vigilance in upholding democratic principles.

In his blogpost published 6 March, O'Brien reiterated:

‘Since Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number is linked to voter details, a duplicate EPIC number will lead to denial of voting rights.

‘It is impossible for voters in two different assembly constituencies (even in the same state) to have the same first three letters on their EPIC. [Yet] voters in different states have been found to have the same EPIC numbers.

‘The EC needs to start by disclosing how many duplicate EPICs exist within the system and how they got assigned,’ he said.