Voter ID cards to reach within 15 days: Election Commission rolls out fast-track delivery system

NEW DELHI: In a major step towards improving voter services, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) are delivered within 15 days of any update in the electoral rolls.

This includes newly enrolled voters or existing electors who have requested changes in their details. Currently, it takes a little over a month for EPICs to reach voters.

The revamped system, launched under the guidance of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, is designed to enhance service delivery with real-time tracking from card generation to delivery via the Department of Posts (DoP).

Voters will also receive SMS updates at every step of the process, keeping them informed about their EPIC status.

As part of this initiative, the ECI has launched a dedicated IT module on its new ECINet platform, which integrates with the DoP’s system through an Application Programme Interface (API). This will streamline workflow, replace the existing manual tracking process, and strengthen data security.

Officials say the move is part of the Commission’s broader push over the past four months to make electoral services faster and more accessible for voters across the country.