NEW DELHI, March 18: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to move ahead with the process of linking voter ID cards with Aadhaar cards. The decision, made on Tuesday, is aimed at eliminating ineligible voters, including illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, and was taken after consultations with experts from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshim, held a crucial meeting on the issue with Union Home Secretary, Secretary of the Legislative Department, Secretary of MeitY, CEO of UIDAI, and other technical experts from the ECI. The meeting focused on ensuring that the linking process adheres to legal provisions outlined in the Indian Constitution and relevant laws.
As per the statement issued after the meeting, it was clarified that the linking of the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) with Aadhaar will only be done in compliance with Article 326 of the Constitution of India, which grants voting rights to citizens of India. The linking will also follow the guidelines set out in Section 23(4), 23(5), and 23(6) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment in WP(Civil) No. 177/2023.
The Election Commission emphasized that while the Aadhaar card is used solely to establish the identity of a person, it will not be the basis for granting voting rights, which remains a prerogative of Indian citizenship. Technical consultations between UIDAI and ECI’s experts will begin soon to implement the system effectively.
The move comes amidst allegations raised by opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. They had pointed out concerns about the inclusion of bogus and duplicate names in the electoral rolls. At present, there is no legal mandate to seed the voter rolls with Aadhaar data, and voters are encouraged to voluntarily provide their Aadhaar number to election officers to verify their identity.
This decision appears to be a continuation of the ECI’s earlier efforts to strengthen electoral processes. The ECI had earlier sought suggestions from national and state political parties to improve the electoral system. The poll body has set April 30 as the deadline for political parties to submit any unresolved issues with Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), District Election Officers (DEO), or Chief Electoral Officers (CEO).
The Election Commission also sent individual letters to political parties requesting their feedback and proposed direct interactions with party presidents and senior leaders at a mutually convenient time.
The initiative aims to enhance the integrity of electoral practices while ensuring compliance with the legal framework. This comes after the ECI held a recent conference in which Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar instructed officials to regularly engage with political parties and resolve any pending issues. He also requested that action taken reports be submitted by March 31.
The Election Commission is working with 28 key stakeholders, including political parties, to ensure that the electoral process is fair, transparent, and aligned with constitutional and statutory requirements.
