| Introduction: Contextual Introduction Body: Highlight the potential benefits and concerns associated with linking Aadhaar with EPIC. Conclusion: Way forward |
The integrity of India’s electoral system relies on public confidence and the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Potential Benefits of Aadhaar-EPIC Linkage
- Elimination of Duplicate and Multiple Voter Registrations: The issue of voters being registered in multiple states—potentially allowing them to vote more than once—can be addressed through Aadhaar linkage, ensuring a single voter identity.
- Enhanced Electoral Integrity: By making EPIC numbers unique and linking them to Aadhaar, electoral rolls can be updated accurately, reducing inconsistencies like the recent 48 lakh voter increase in Maharashtra.
- Prevention of Electoral Fraud: With biometric verification, the possibility of impersonation or bogus voting is minimized, bolstering trust in the electoral process.
- Streamlining Voter Registration: Aadhaar-based authentication can make voter registration more efficient, particularly for internal migrants, ensuring that they are registered only in their place of residence.
Concerns and Challenges
- Aadhaar Identifies Residents, Not Citizens: Since Aadhaar is issued to residents and not exclusively to Indian citizens, linking it to voter IDs does not guarantee that only eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls. Additional proof of citizenship would be required.
- Risk of Data Misuse and Voter Profiling: Storing Aadhaar details in electoral rolls could lead to concerns over surveillance and targeted political profiling, potentially undermining voter privacy.
- Technological and Authentication Failures: Biometric authentication is not foolproof and has been known to exclude genuine individuals due to fingerprint mismatches, connectivity issues, or Aadhaar-related errors. This could lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
- Legal and Constitutional Issues: The Supreme Court’s ruling in S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) upheld privacy as a fundamental right, raising concerns about whether making the Aadhaar linkage mandatory for voting would violate this right.
- Political Trust Deficit in the ECI: The lack of transparency in voter registration, as highlighted in recent State elections, suggests that Aadhaar linkage alone will not restore confidence in the electoral process unless accompanied by robust verification mechanisms and independent oversight.
Conclusion
While Aadhaar-EPIC linkage could help in eliminating duplicate voters and strengthening electoral integrity, it is not a panacea. The ECI must ensure that Aadhaar-based de-duplication is supplemented with alternative identity verification to prevent wrongful exclusions. Additionally, concerns over privacy, misuse, and the distinction between residents and citizens must be addressed through legislative safeguards and technological improvements. A balanced approach—ensuring both electoral accuracy and voter inclusivity—is essential to uphold India’s democratic processes.
