Ahead of the February Delhi Assembly elections, the AAP and BJP have accused each other of manipulating voter rolls. The Congress has also raised concerns about voter list alterations in Maharashtra. This raises the question of linking voter IDs to Aadhaar for transparency.

Arguments in Favor of Linking Voter ID with Aadhaar

• Eliminates Duplicate and Bogus Voters: Linking Aadhaar with Voter ID can help identify and remove duplicate or fake entries from electoral rolls, ensuring that each citizen has only one vote.
• Reduces Electoral Fraud: Aadhaar’s biometric authentication can act as a strong deterrent against impersonation and other forms of voter fraud during elections.
• Improves Accuracy of Electoral Rolls: Aadhaar linkage would enable the Election Commission to maintain up-to-date and accurate electoral rolls, reflecting real-time migration or demographic changes.
• Enhances Voter Convenience: Voter lists with Aadhaar linkage could facilitate seamless voter identification, making the voting process smoother and more accessible.
• Cost Efficiency in Election Management: Accurate voter databases can help reduce administrative costs associated with managing and updating electoral rolls and conducting elections.
• Transparency in Electoral Processes: Linking Aadhaar to Voter IDs could bring greater trust in the electoral process, addressing allegations of manipulation or biased practices.

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Arguments Against Linking Voter ID with Aadhaar

• Risk to Privacy and Data Security: Concerns arise regarding the misuse of personal data if voter databases are linked with Aadhaar, especially given India’s lack of a robust data protection framework.
• Exclusion of Marginalized Groups: Many people, particularly in rural and tribal areas, may not have Aadhaar or face difficulties in linking it with Voter IDs, leading to potential disenfranchisement.
• No Guaranteed Solution to Electoral Fraud: While Aadhaar linkage may address duplicate entries, it does not completely eliminate other forms of electoral malpractices like vote-buying or intimidation.
• Legal and Constitutional Issues: The Supreme Court of India has ruled that Aadhaar should not be made mandatory except for availing subsidies and welfare benefits. Linking it with voting rights could face legal challenges.
• Dependence on Faulty Biometric Systems: The Aadhaar system’s biometric verification is not foolproof and has been known to fail for individuals with worn-out fingerprints or other biometric inconsistencies.
• Potential for Political Misuse: There are fears that linking Aadhaar with voter IDs could lead to voter profiling and targeted political exploitation, undermining free and fair elections.

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