On January 25, on the occasion of National Voters’ Day, the Election Commission of India (ECI) rolled out the facility of digital voter ID cards. Called the Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card (e-EPIC), this digital voter ID card will be available in PDF format. The e-EPIC is just like e-Aadhaar in that it can only be printed and is not editable.
e-EPIC is a portable document format(PDF) version of the EPIC which can be downloaded on mobile or in a self-printable form on the computer. A voter can thus store the card on his/her mobile, upload it on Digi locker or print it and self-laminate it. This is in addition to PCV EPIC being issued for fresh registration.
It is important to note that till January 31, this facility will be available only to those who have applied for voter ID cards last year, in November and December. From February 1, the digital voter ID card will be available to all.
Who are eligible for e-EPIC
- 25th to 31st Jan 2021 : Only new electors registered during Special Summary Revision 2021 and having unique mobile number in Eroll.
- 1st Feb 2021 onwards : All General electors
How e-EPIC Benefits Citizen
- Alternate and faster mode of obtaining Electoral Photo Identity Card in a digital format.
- Equally valid as a proof of document for voter identification.
- Can be printed at the convenience of the voter and can bring it as proof during polling.
- Self service model
1. Go to voterportal.eci.gov.in. Create an account by entering the relevant details.
2. Upon creation of the account, log in and go to the menu which says “Download e-EPIC.”
3. Enter your EPIC number or form reference number. A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to your registered mobile number.
4. Now, click on “Download EPIC.” However, you will have to complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process to download the card if the mobile number mentioned on the card is different.
5. After updating the number through KYC, you can download the digital voter ID card.
6. If you’ve lost your e-EPIC number, you can check for it on voterportal.eci.gov.in.
7. The digital voter ID card can also be generated from the voter mobile app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.