Background & Decision
- The Election Commission (EC) has initiated steps to link Aadhaar with the Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC).
- The decision was taken during a high-level meeting led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- The EC announced plans for technical consultations with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to facilitate this linkage.
Relevance : GS 2(Election Reforms )
Legal & Constitutional Framework
- Article 326 of the Constitution: Ensures voting rights only to citizens, clarifying that Aadhaar is an identity proof, not proof of citizenship.
- Representation of the People Act, 1950:
- Section 23(4), 23(5), 23(6): Specifies legal provisions regarding voter registration and verification.
- Supreme Court Judgment (WP Civil No. 177/2023): Forms the basis for linking Aadhaar with EPIC, ensuring that submission remains voluntary.
Concerns Raised
- Voluntariness vs. Coercion:
- EC maintains that linkage will be voluntary, but past instances (such as welfare scheme enrollments) raise concerns about potential coercion.
- Data Security & Privacy Risks:
- Potential for misuse of voter data, linking political choices with personal identity records.
- Past Aadhaar-related data leaks raise alarms about data security vulnerabilities.
Potential Benefits
- Reducing Electoral Fraud:
- Aims to eliminate bogus voters, duplicate voter IDs, and impersonation.
- Strengthens the integrity of electoral rolls by ensuring a single identity per voter.
- Improved Electoral Process:
- Streamlining voter registration and verification.
- Facilitates easier electoral roll maintenance and migration tracking (voters moving across constituencies).
- Enhancing Electoral Participation:
- Could help ensure migrant workers and marginalized communities retain their voting rights.
Challenges & Criticism
- Disenfranchisement Risks:
- Past reports indicate exclusion of genuine voters due to Aadhaar mismatches or unavailability.
- Rural, elderly, and economically disadvantaged citizens may face difficulties in linking Aadhaar with EPIC.
- Privacy & Surveillance Concerns:
- Critics argue this could lead to mass surveillance and profiling of voters.
- Potential for misuse by political entities in targeted campaigning and electoral manipulation.
- Implementation Hurdles:
- Technical challenges in linking Aadhaar to voter ID, ensuring error-free mapping.
- Ensuring voluntary participation while avoiding indirect coercion.
