What is EPIC?

The full form of EPIC is Electoral Photo Identity Card

Important information about EPIC

Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is a permanent document which establishes the identity of the concerned elector. Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) in its current Form is approximately of the same size as the PAN card issued by Income Tax Department or a Driving License.
Previously, the size of EPIC used to be 9 c.m. x 7 c.m. which was later changed to 8.4 c.m. x 5 c.m. by the Election Commission of India.
This size is pocket friendly in the sense that it can be conveniently carried in a wallet or pocket. Even after introduction of the new EPIC of 8.4 c.m. x 5 c.m. size the old EPIC of 9 c.m. x 7 c.m. size continues to remain valid.

Front Portion of an EPIC: Personal details like Name, Father’s/Mother’s/ Husband’s name, Sex and Age/ Date of Birth as well as the photograph of the elector.
Reverse Side of an EPIC: Address of the elector, Number and name of the Assembly Constituency, Place and Date of issue of EPIC. Serial number of the EPIC is printed on both the front as well as reverse side of the EPIC.

A security hologram is so affixed/pasted on the front side of the EPIC that it is pasted partly on the photograph of the elector and partly on the vacant space on the left of the photograph, ensuring that the hologram does not cover any part of the face of the elector. As an additional security feature, the reverse side of the EPIC bears the facsimile signature of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) who has issued the EPIC.
An EPIC is properly laminated before it is handed over to the elector. Lamination ensures protection of the document and it is also a deterrent against any interpolation in the entries contained in the EPIC.

Nowadays, every Assembly Constituency is given a three letter (alphabet) FUSN Code by the Election Commission of India after which a seven-digit number is allocated by the computer. Thus, presently each EPIC that is being issued has a ten-digit alpha-numeric
number which is called F.U.S.N. (Functional Unique Serial Number).
The new EPICs contain ten alpha-numeric characters with new FUSN Code. Every EPIC bearing the FUSN number or the earlier 16/17-digit alpha-numeric characters is unique. It means that any particular EPIC number can be allotted to only one EPIC. Naturally, it follows that no two electors should possess EPICs having the same EPIC number.

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