• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

The Election Commission of India is set to introduce major electoral reforms starting with the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. In a significant move, Bihar will become the first state to issue the new ‘Bharat Series’ EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card), aimed at creating a single, nationwide voter identification system.

The new voter ID will function similarly to Aadhaar or PAN, providing each citizen with a unique, national-level EPIC number. This ID will remain unchanged even if the voter relocates to another state; only the address will be updated.

ALSO READ: Karnataka Caste Census Inaccurate? Govt Used Same Voter List That Rahul Gandhi Questions, Says Report

The rollout of the Bharat Series EPIC is scheduled between the last week of September and the first week of October 2025. The initiative is expected to resolve issues of duplicate EPIC numbers and streamline voter identification across the country before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

As part of the reform, the Commission will also introduce a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for faster delivery of EPICs. Under the updated mechanism, new cards will be issued within 15 days of voter registration or updates. Real-time tracking of the EPIC generation and postal dispatch process will be implemented, and voters will receive SMS alerts at every stage.

Further, the Election Commission will use death registration data from the Registrar General of India to automatically remove deceased individuals from electoral rolls after verification. The voter information slip will also be redesigned to display essential details—such as serial and part numbers—in larger font for easier understanding.

ALSO READ: Bihar Records Over 6.5 Cr Tourist Arrivals In 2024; Ranks Among Top 10 For Foreign Visitors

In another key reform, political parties will now be allowed to set up campaign booths just 100 metres from polling stations, halving the earlier distance restriction of 200 metres. Additionally, the voter-to-booth ratio will be reduced from 1,500 to 1,200 to ease crowding.

To address urban apathy in voting, polling booths will now be established inside apartment complexes and residential colonies. This step comes after findings from the 2024 KAP survey revealed that 6.3 per cent of urban voters cited distance and 2.4 per cent cited long queues as reasons for not casting their votes. The Commission hopes these changes will increase voter turnout, particularly in cities.