Patna: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will roll out a new ‘Bharat series’ voter identity card in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, marking the first step towards a nationwide system aimed at curbing duplicate electoral photo identity cards (EPICs).
Under the plan, voters in Bihar will be issued the redesigned card between late September and early October, with the scheme to be expanded in phases to other states before the 2029 general election. The initiative will assign each voter a unique EPIC number, valid across the country, similar to Aadhaar or PAN. Changes of address will no longer require a new EPIC number, only an update to existing records.
The ECI will also integrate death registration data from the Registrar General of India into the voter roll update process, enabling verified removal of deceased voters. Voter information slips will be redesigned with serial and part numbers printed in larger, clearer type.
A new standard operating procedure will ensure EPICs are issued within 15 days of enrolment or information changes. Real-time tracking, from printing to delivery via the postal department, will be implemented, with voters receiving updates by SMS.
In a move aimed at improving access and convenience, political parties will now be allowed to set up campaign booths as close as 100 metres from polling stations, halving the previous limit. Booth sizes will also be reduced to serve 1,200 voters instead of 1,500, with new polling stations established within apartment complexes and residential colonies to boost turnout in urban areas where participation has been declining.
