New Delhi, March 15, 2025: The Election Commission (EC) is set to hold a high-level meeting next week with top officials from the Union Home Ministry, Law Ministry, and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to discuss the linking of Aadhaar numbers with Voter ID cards.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will take place on March 18. They will meet Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Legislative Department Secretary Rajiv Mani, and UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar to deliberate on seeding Aadhaar with voter IDs.
Aadhaar-Voter ID Link: A Long-Pending Move
The discussion follows an amendment to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, in 2021, which enabled voluntary Aadhaar-Voter ID linking. The EC began collecting Aadhaar numbers from electors in 2022, aiming to eliminate duplicate voter registrations and clean up electoral rolls. However, Aadhaar has not been used in electoral roll revisions so far, and linking remains optional.
Concerns Over Duplicate EPIC Numbers
The meeting comes amid allegations by the Opposition INDIA bloc regarding irregularities in electoral rolls. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) raised concerns about voters in West Bengal and other states having identical EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) numbers, which was also flagged by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Following these concerns, the EC acknowledged errors in issuing EPIC numbers by some state Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and assured corrective measures. It clarified that duplicate EPIC numbers do not imply fake voters, as other voter details, including demographic information and polling booth allocations, remain distinct.
Corrective Measures and Opposition’s Reaction
To resolve discrepancies, the EC has announced a plan to issue new EPIC numbers to affected voters within three months. However, the TMC has criticized the EC’s response, calling the upcoming meeting a “face-saving measure.”
Aadhaar Linkage to Aid Voter Verification
EC sources suggest that Aadhaar-Voter ID linkage could streamline field verification, ensuring voter authenticity and reducing duplicate registrations. However, linking remains voluntary, as reaffirmed by the Law Ministry in Parliament last year.
As of January 2025, India has over 99 crore registered voters, with the EC having collected 66.23 crore Aadhaar numbers so far. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the EC’s Form 6B, which does not provide an option to opt out of providing Aadhaar details.
The EC plans to roll out de-duplication software updates soon, issuing new voter ID cards where necessary. However, states heading for elections next year, like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, will not see immediate changes.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming meeting is expected to shape the future of electoral roll management in India. While linking Aadhaar with Voter ID could enhance voter verification, the debate over its necessity and concerns over data privacy continue to stir political discussions.
