- Election Commission plans to discuss linking Voter ID with Aadhaar.
- Meeting scheduled with top officials on March 18 for addressing concerns.
- Aim is to eliminate duplicate voter entries and enhance voter list accuracy.
Election Commission of India is set to explore the ambitious plan of connecting Voter ID cards with Aadhar numbers. This significant meeting, scheduled for March 18, will bring together key officials including the Union Home Secretary, Secretary from the Legislative Department, and the CEO of UIDAI. The primary goal of this initiative is to clear the voter lists of duplicate entries and to ensure a more precise and accurate electoral roll.
Objective and Implications of the Meeting
The meeting holds particular importance in light of the ongoing political discussions surrounding voter ID issues, especially in West Bengal where concerns over duplicate voter entries have been raised by the Trinamool Congress. The Election Commission plans to remove duplicate voter entries within the next three months.
Current Status of Aadhar-Voter ID Linking
While the election laws currently permit officers to request Aadhar numbers from voters, providing these details is voluntary. Privacy and legal challenges have prevented full integration of Aadhaar and voter databases. The Election Commission, however, has recorded a substantial number of Aadhaar numbers voluntarily but stresses that due to privacy concerns, complete system integration remains unattained.
Support for Aadhaar Seeding
The Election Commission has long been a proponent of Aadhar seeding. It views this integration as a critical step to reduce duplicity in electoral rolls. In 2017, the Commission even approached the Supreme Court, advocating for the continuation of linking Aadhaar to voter IDs as a means to maintain an accurate voter registry.
Future of Electoral Reforms
Aadhar seeding stands at the core of the Commission’s broader reform strategies, which include advanced voting systems, remote voting for domestic migrants, and strengthening the electoral processes. However, without the full implementation of Aadhar seeding, these initiatives have faced hurdles. The upcoming meeting on March 18 is eagerly awaited as a critical decision-making juncture that may propel these reforms forward.