Context and Background

• Recent Developments:
  • Allegations by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of electoral roll manipulation before the Delhi Assembly elections reignited the debate.

History of the Proposal

• National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Program (NERPAP):
  • Launch: February 2015 by the Election Commission (EC).
  • Objective: Address duplicate entries in electoral rolls by linking voter IDs with Aadhaar.
  • Outcome: Linked over 300 million voters in three months.
  • Interruption: Supreme Court’s interim order (August 2015) restricted Aadhaar usage to welfare schemes, halting NERPAP.
• Post-Puttaswamy Judgment (2018):
  • Constitutional Validation of Aadhaar: Enabled the EC to seek legislative amendments.
  • Amendments:
    • RP Act, 1950 and Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 amended in December 2021.
    • Provided formats for Aadhaar submission (Form 6 for new voters and Form 6B for existing voters).
    • Allowed alternate documents for those unable to provide Aadhaar numbers.
    • Ensured inclusion or deletion in electoral rolls was not contingent upon Aadhaar.

Current Status and Challenges

• Forms 6 and 6B:
  • Require Aadhaar submission unless unavailable.
  • No amendments yet despite EC’s assurance to clarify non-mandatory status (September 2023).
• Errors in Aadhaar Database:
  • Risk of wrongful rejection or deletion of electoral entries.
• Aadhaar’s Limitations:
  • Proof of residence, not citizenship.
  • Does not address non-citizens on the electoral roll.
• Privacy Concerns:
  • Electoral rolls are widely circulated; Aadhaar linkage may risk misuse.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Eliminates Duplicates:
   • Helps identify and remove duplicate or fraudulent voter entries.
   • Strengthens electoral integrity.
2. Streamlined Electoral Rolls:
   • Enhances the accuracy of voter lists.

Cons:

1. Data Errors:
   • Potential for wrongful rejections due to inaccuracies in Aadhaar.
2. Residency vs. Citizenship:
   • Aadhaar does not verify citizenship, posing risks of non-citizen inclusion.
3. Privacy Issues:
   • Risks of electoral roll data being misused despite back-end

Way Forward

Legislative and Administrative Actions:

• Amend Forms 6 and 6B promptly to clarify Aadhaar’s non-mandatory nature.
• Ensure robust public awareness campaigns to build voter confidence in the process.

Safeguarding Privacy:

• Implement measures to secure electoral data and prevent misuse.

Inclusivity:

• Address misplaced voter concerns regarding secrecy and fairness.

Verification Beyond Aadhaar:

• Explore additional measures to identify non-citizen voters.

Conclusion

Linking Aadhaar with voter IDs offers significant advantages in streamlining electoral rolls but poses challenges concerning data accuracy, citizenship verification, and privacy. Balancing these concerns with robust legislative safeguards and administrative clarity is essential to uphold the constitutional right to free and fair elections.