Aadhaar-Voter ID Linkage

Why in the News?

The Election Commission (EC) recently launched a campaign to linkage the integration of Voter ID and Aadhaar.

Rationale behind the Aadhar-voter if linkages:

To maintain an updated and accurate record of the voter base.
To weed out duplication of voters, such as migrant workers
Linkage of Aadhaar with voter IDs will assist in ensuring that only one Voter ID is issued per citizen of India.

In December 2021, Parliament passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021.
It states that the electoral registration officer may ask the citizens to furnish their aadhar numbers for the purpose of authentication.
To implement this amendment, in June 2022, the government notified changes to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
It provides that “every person whose name is listed in the roll may intimate his Aadhar number to the registration officer”.
To that extent, the element of choice has been incorporated in the amendments.

Challenges:

Widespread disenfranchisement: This can lead to voters being disenfranchised.
- Nearly 55 lakh voters saw their names deleted from the voter list after voter IDs were linked to Aadhaar numbers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Security concern: Lack of data protection law
Misuse of Information: Potential of misuse of this information for voter profiling and targeted campaigning.
Violate citizen’s rights: Linking Aadhaar and voter IDs may also violate citizens’ fundamental rights.
- In 2017, the Supreme Court had laid down certain criteria that had to be met to restrict the right to privacy.
Unconstitutional: Voting is a constitutional right under Article 326 that can only be restricted on grounds of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice.

Conclusion:

It is important that the government clarifies that linking is not mandatory.
Expedites the enactment of a data protection legislation that allays concerns of unauthorised processing of personal data held by the government.