New Delhi |
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is pushing forward with its plan to link Voter ID cards with Aadhaar, aiming to enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls. However, voters who choose not to share their Aadhaar details will now have to provide a valid reason for opting out, as per a decision made during a high-level meeting between ECI officials and multiple government departments.
Aadhaar-Voter ID Linking: The Road Ahead
During the meeting attended by officials from the Home Ministry, Law Ministry, IT Ministry, and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), discussions centered on the legal and technical aspects of linking voter records with the Aadhaar database.
Currently, over 66 crore voters have voluntarily shared their Aadhaar details with the ECI, but these databases have not yet been integrated to remove duplicate or fraudulent entries. Moving forward, the UIDAI and ECI will work together on a mechanism to link these databases while ensuring compliance with electoral laws.
Form 6B to Be Amended for Clarity
To eliminate confusion, the Union Law Ministry will amend Form 6B, the document used to collect Aadhaar numbers from voters. Previously, voters could either submit their Aadhaar or declare, “I am not able to furnish my Aadhaar because I don’t have an Aadhaar number.” This limited choice created ambiguity over whether sharing Aadhaar was truly voluntary.
Now, while voters will still have the option to opt out, they will be required to provide a reason for not submitting their Aadhaar number. The government aims to introduce this amendment before the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections later this year.
Election Commission Addresses Duplicate Voter Concerns
The decision comes amidst rising concerns over duplicate voter ID cards. Opposition parties, particularly the Trinamool Congress (TMC), have alleged electoral roll manipulation, claiming that identical Voter ID numbers have been issued across different states. TMC chief Mamata Banerjee recently accused the BJP and the Election Commission of attempting to influence voter lists, a claim reinforced by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.
In response, the ECI acknowledged the issue, clarifying that identical Voter ID numbers do not indicate electoral fraud but were instead caused by technical errors in how state election officers generated alphanumeric sequences. The Commission has assured that affected voters will receive corrected Voter ID numbers within three months.
What This Means for Voters
- If you have already linked your Aadhaar with your Voter ID, no further action is required.
- If you choose not to link Aadhaar, you must now provide a reason.
- If your Voter ID is among the duplicate entries, the Election Commission will issue a new, unique number soon.
With election transparency under scrutiny, the ECI’s move aims to strengthen electoral integrity while addressing public concerns over data privacy and voter disenfranchisement. As India prepares for upcoming elections, the success of this Aadhaar-Voter ID linking initiative will be closely watched by voters, political parties, and civil society alike.
