New Delhi, Aug 17 – Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed concerns regarding multiple voter identity cards during a press conference on Sunday. He explained that these instances often arise due to migration or administrative errors, and the Election Commission is actively working to resolve such discrepancies.

Kumar highlighted the issue of ‘House number zero,’ which has been raised by various political parties. He noted that many voters lack a permanent home or have not been assigned house numbers by local panchayats or municipalities.

The Chief Election Commissioner also mentioned that the Commission has rectified approximately three lakh cases where the same voter identity card number was assigned to different individuals across various states. He emphasized that even if a person is registered to vote in two locations, they are only permitted to vote in one. Kumar stated, “Voting at two places is a crime,” and reiterated the need for proof in cases of alleged double voting, which has not been provided in some instances.

Kumar acknowledged that some individuals may unknowingly possess multiple voter identity cards due to migration and other factors. He indicated that initiatives like the special intensive revision (SIR) would help address these issues.

Regarding voters listing their residences as ‘house number zero,’ Kumar remarked, “Many people do not have a home, but their name is also in the voter list.” He explained that the address provided often reflects where individuals sleep at night, which can vary from temporary shelters to outdoor locations. He cautioned against labeling these voters as fake, stating, “It would be a big joke on the poor voters.”

The Chief Election Commissioner revealed that millions of individuals have ‘zero number’ in their addresses due to the lack of official house numbers from local authorities. He pointed out that unauthorized colonies often lack proper numbering, complicating the address-filling process for residents. Kumar assured that the Election Commission supports these voters and will provide them with a notional number.

He clarified that the presence of a ‘zero’ in the address does not disqualify someone from being a voter. He emphasized that citizenship and age are more critical criteria for voter eligibility than the specific address.

Kumar explained that the issue of multiple identity cards stems from the absence of a centralized Election Commission website prior to 2003, which made it difficult to manage voter data effectively. With the advent of technology, the Commission now has the capability to update and maintain accurate voter records.