EC pushes Voter ID-Aadhaar link to address Opposition’s concerns

In a significant development, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to collaborate with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to link voter records with the Aadhaar database. While the process remains voluntary, voters declining to share their Aadhaar numbers will be required to explain their decision, according to sources.

This decision follows a high-level meeting on March 18 between senior officials from the ECI and key government ministries, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), and UIDAI. The meeting — attended by Home Secretary Govind Mohan, MEITY Secretary S Krishnan, Legislative Department Secretary Rajiv Mani, and UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar — marks the first formal engagement between the Commission and the Union Government this year.

Addressing electoral roll controversies

The move comes amid allegations from the Opposition’s India bloc regarding irregularities in electoral rolls across the country. During the hour-long discussions, officials examined the legal and technical implications of integrating Aadhaar with the voter database.

As of 2023, the ECI had collected Aadhaar details from over 66 crore voters who voluntarily provided the information. However, the data has not yet been used to identify duplicate entries or clean up electoral rolls.

Moving forward, the ECI will work with UIDAI to determine how to link these records while adhering to legal provisions outlined in Sections 23(4), 23(5), and 23(6) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. These sections govern the collection and verification of Aadhaar details while ensuring that voters are not denied registration or removed for failing to provide Aadhaar information.

Amending Form 6B for clarity

A key takeaway from the meeting was the decision to amend Form 6B, the document used to collect Aadhaar details from voters. Currently, the form does not allow electors to abstain from providing Aadhaar, offering only two choices: either furnish the Aadhaar number or declare, “I am not able to furnish my Aadhaar because I don’t have an Aadhaar number.”

The Union Law Ministry is expected to issue a gazette notification to amend Form 6B, ensuring that voters have a clear understanding that Aadhaar submission is voluntary. However, those who decline to provide their Aadhaar numbers will need to state a reason.

The amendment is expected before the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections later this year, aligning with the ECI’s assurance to the Supreme Court in G Niranjan Vs Election Commission of India that necessary clarifications would be introduced.

Tackling duplicate voter ID controversy

The decision also follows a recent uproar over duplicate voter ID cards. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the ECI of manipulating voter lists to benefit the ruling BJP, alleging that identical voter ID numbers were issued to citizens across multiple states. This claim was echoed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a recent Lok Sabha session.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee further intensified the debate, alleging that the BJP and ECI were colluding to alter electoral rolls. In response, the ECI admitted to discrepancies, attributing them to errors by state Chief Electoral Officers who mistakenly assigned alphanumeric sequences when generating EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) numbers.

The Commission clarified that while identical EPIC numbers exist, they do not necessarily indicate voter fraud, as demographic details, constituency assignments, and polling station data remain unique for each individual.

To rectify the issue, the Election Commission has pledged to issue replacement EPIC numbers to affected voters within the next three months. With the upcoming elections on the horizon, these measures could have a lasting impact on India’s electoral process, shaping debates over voter integrity, transparency, and data privacy.