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.

Key Points:

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.

Is the linking mandatory?

• 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.