Editorial 2: A move that endangers the right to vote

Context

Instead of relying on technological fixes that infringe on citizens' privacy, the ECI should focus on strengthening traditional, proven methods of voter verification.

Introduction

The Election Commission of India (ECI)'s push to link Aadhaar with voter ID threatens the right to vote. It’s claimed to clean electoral rolls and improve electoral integrity, but data shows that Aadhaar linkage has led to mass disenfranchisement, errors, exclusions, and violations of citizens' right to privacy.

Concerns Regarding Aadhaar-Voter ID Linkage

• Voluntary Claim Questioned: The claim that Aadhaar-voter ID linkage is voluntary is questionable.
  • Form 6B offers no meaningful opt-out option, coercing voters into compliance by either submitting their Aadhaar number or declaring they don’t have one.
  • By September 2023, over 66 crore Aadhaar numbers were already seeded.
  • This was facilitated by a coercive legal framework and questionable data-sharing practices.
  • DBT Seeding Data Viewer allows third-party access to non-biometric identity data from UIDAI.
• New Proposal's Issues: The new proposal requires voters who don’t submit Aadhaar to appear in person before an Electoral Registration Officer.
  • In 2023, the ECI assured the Supreme Court that the linkage wouldn't be mandatory, but the proposal contradicts that commitment.
  • The proposal imposes barriers for vulnerable groups like elderly, disabled, migrant workers, and people in remote areas.

• Lack of Fair Appeal: There's no clear appellate mechanism for voters if their justification for not submitting Aadhaar is rejected.
  • Supreme Court’s ruling in 1995 emphasized the need for procedural fairness and natural justice when removing names from electoral rolls.

Issues with Aadhaar as Proof of Citizenship

• Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship: Aadhaar is a residency-based ID, not proof of Indian citizenship.
  • The Aadhaar Act, 2016, clarifies that non-citizens who have resided in India for 182 days can get an Aadhaar.
  • High Courts and UIDAI have confirmed that Aadhaar is not a valid proof of citizenship.
• Linkage Risks: Linking Aadhaar to voter ID introduces an unreliable filter in the electoral process.
  • Previous attempts led to mass disenfranchisement, as seen in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in 2015, where 55 lakh voters were removed due to Aadhaar mismatches.

• Risk of Surveillance:
  • Aadhaar-voter ID linkage could lead to dragnet surveillance and voter profiling.
  • The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 allows government entities to access and exploit voter data for political purposes, potentially manipulating electoral outcomes.
• Impact on Constitutional Integrity:
  • ECI’s role in election oversight contrasts with UIDAI’s executive control, undermining the separation of powers and the integrity of the electoral process.
• Database Reliability Issues:
  • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report (2022) found duplication and faulty biometric datain the Aadhaar database.
  • Using such a flawed database for electoral roll purification could lead to wrongful deletions and exclusions.

Methods of electoral verification

• Instead of relying on technological fixes and infringing on citizens' right to privacy, the ECI should focus on strengthening traditional, proven methods of voter verification.
• Effective approaches include:
  • Regular door-to-door verification by booth-level officers.
  • Comprehensive, independent audits of electoral rolls.
  • Functional public grievance redressal frameworks to address concerns.
• Additionally, introducing independent oversight through social audits would:
  • Enhance accountability.
  • Prevent politically motivated manipulations of electoral rolls.

Conclusion

The right to vote is a constitutional guarantee. Any policy that places unreasonable burdens on citizens, uses unreliable verification methods, or allows political profiling should be discarded. The Aadhaar-voter ID linkage does all three. It is troubling that such a constitutionally questionable scheme has received support from all political sides.