The Election Commission of India will formally launch the e-EPIC (Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card) programme on January 25, the National Voter's Day. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will on Monday launch electronic version of the voter identity card which can be downloaded on mobile phone or personal computer.
The e-EPIC initiative would be launched in two phases. In the first phase from January 25 to 31, all new voters who have applied for the voter-ID card and registered their mobile numbers in Form-6 will be able to download the e-EPIC by simply authenticating their mobile number. The mobile numbers should be unique and not be previously registered in the ECI's electoral rolls.
"The second phase will start on February 1. It will be open for the general voters. All those who have given their mobile numbers (linked one) they can also download their e-EPIC", said ECI official.
The e-elector photo identity card is non-editable digital version of the elector photo identity card and it can be saved in facilities such as digital locker and can be printed in the PDF format, Election Commission officials said, according to a PTI report.
"Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will launch the e-EPIC programme and distribute e-EPICs and Elector Photo Identity Cards to five new voters," a Commission statement said on Sunday.
In a statement, the government said that physical card takes time to print and reach the voter, and the idea is to provide faster delivery and easy accessibility to the document.
How to download digital voter ID cards:
Log on to https://voterportal.eci.gov.in/, or https://nvsp.in/Account/Login
If you do not have an account, then create an account through your mobile number or email ID.
If you already have an account, then log in and click on the option of download E-EPIC.
The download facility will be available from 11.14 am onwards on January 25.
Other identity proofs like the Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence are already available in the digital format. This will be the first time that the government will issue voter identity cards in digital formats.
