Duplicate Voter ID Numbers - polity

Duplicate Voter ID Numbers - polity

NEWS: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has acknowledged concerns regarding identical Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC) numbers issued to voters in different states. 

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

Reports of duplicate voter ID numbers have raised significant concerns regarding the possibility of bogus voting and electoral fraud. Duplicate entries in the voter database can lead to multiple voting by a single individual, thereby compromising the integrity of elections.

  • Before the introduction of ERONET (Electoral Roll Management Platform), different states in India used varied systems to manage voter records. This lack of uniformity led to multiple voter entries, particularly due to migration from one state to another.
  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) is actively working to rectify such duplicate voter ID numbers and is in the process of implementing ERONET 2.0, an upgraded version aimed at improving voter database management and ensuring greater accuracy in electoral rolls.

 

What is an EPIC Number?

  • EPIC (Electors Photo Identification Card) is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric voter ID number issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to eligible voters.
  • It serves as a key document for voter identification and is mandatory for citizens aged 18 years and above to participate in elections.

 

Purpose of the EPIC Number:

  • Acts as an official proof of identity for Indian citizens while casting their vote.
  • Enables voters to access various electoral services, such as checking their voter status, updating personal details, and applying for corrections.
  • Plays a crucial role in preventing fraudulent voting practices, ensuring that each voter can cast only one vote.

 

What is ERONET?

ERONET (Electoral Roll Management Platform) is an integrated web-based system introduced by the Election Commission of India to ensure a centralized and accurate electoral database across all states and Union Territories.

 

Key Features of ERONET:

  1. Centralized Electoral Roll Management:
    • Provides a single, unified electoral database that is accessible to all states and Union Territories.
    • Eliminates discrepancies arising due to different voter registration systems used in various states.
  2. Multilingual Support:
    • ERONET operates in 14 Indian languages and 11 scripts, making it easier for local election officials to process voter data.
  3. Detection of Similar Entries:
    • The platform generates Photo Similar Entries (PSE) Reports to identify duplicate voter records based on matching voter photographs.
    • It also generates Demographic Similar Entries (DSE) Reports, which help detect duplicate records by analyzing details such as name, age, and address.
  4. Reduction of Duplicate Voter Registrations Due to Migration:
    • Before ERONET, when a voter moved from one state to another, their name often remained in the previous electoral roll while also being added to the new location.
    • ERONET helps eliminate such duplicate entries by ensuring that a voter's name appears in only one location at a time.

National Electoral Rolls Purification & Authentication Program (NERPAP) – 2015

To address the issue of duplicate voter entries and strengthen the electoral process, the Election Commission of India launched the National Electoral Rolls Purification & Authentication Program (NERPAP) in 2015.

 

Objective of NERPAP:

  • The primary goal was to remove duplicate voter entries by linking the EPIC (voter ID number) with Aadhaar.

 

Benefits of Linking EPIC with Aadhaar:

  1. Ensures "One Voter, One Vote" Policy:
    • Aadhaar linking helps prevent multiple registrations of the same individual in different constituencies.
    • This ensures that each citizen is registered only once, reducing the chances of duplicate voting.
  2. Enhances Electoral Transparency and Integrity:
    • The linking process increases public confidence in the electoral system by ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and transparently.
  3. Maintains Clean and Updated Electoral Rolls:
    • Eliminates inaccurate, outdated, or fraudulent entries from voter lists, ensuring that only eligible voters remain registered.
  4. Improves Efficiency in Election Management:
    • The use of Aadhaar authentication streamlines the voter registration process, making it more reliable and efficient for election authorities.

 

Challenges in Linking EPIC with Aadhaar:

  1. Risk of Wrongful Deletion Due to Aadhaar Errors:
    • Errors in Aadhaar details, such as incorrect names, addresses, or biometric mismatches, could lead to the wrongful deletion of genuine voters from the electoral rolls.
  2. Aadhaar is Not Proof of Citizenship:
    • While Aadhaar serves as an identity proof, it does not establish Indian citizenship.
    • This raises concerns about non-citizens being included in electoral rolls, which could impact the electoral integrity of the country.
  3. Privacy Risks Due to Data Linking:
    • Linking voter IDs with Aadhaar raises serious privacy concerns, as it involves storing sensitive personal information.
    • There is a risk of potential misuse, unauthorized access, and data breaches, which could compromise voter confidentiality.

 

Way Forward: Strengthening Electoral Roll Management

To address concerns and improve voter registration accuracy, the following measures must be implemented:

1. Public Awareness Campaigns:

  • Educate voters about the importance of linking EPIC with Aadhaar and its role in preventing electoral fraud.
  • Conduct outreach programs in rural and urban areas to ensure voter participation in the authentication process.

2. Addressing Privacy Concerns:

  • Ensure that Aadhaar-voter ID linking does not violate citizen privacy rights and that voter data remains secure.
  • Assure citizens that their voting preferences and ballot secrecy will remain confidential and protected from misuse.

3. Strengthening Electoral Transparency and Trust:

  • Implement strict measures to detect and eliminate duplicate voter entries while safeguarding genuine voter registrations.
  • Election authorities must adopt a transparent and accountable process to prevent wrongful deletions from voter lists.

4. Implementing ERONET 2.0 for Better Electoral Roll Management:

  • Upgrade ERONET to a more advanced version, ERONET 2.0, with enhanced features for detecting and removing duplicate entries more effectively.
  • Ensure that all states fully integrate with ERONET to maintain a uniform, digital electoral roll system across India.

By implementing these measures, India can move towards a more secure, transparent, and efficient electoral system, ensuring free and fair elections for all citizens.

 

What is the Status of Aadhaar Linking in India?

  • Tripura has the highest rate of Aadhaar linking, with over 92% of voters in the state providing their Aadhaar details to the EC.
  • Lakshadweep and Madhya Pradesh have the second and third highest rates of Aadhaar linking, with over 91% and 86% of voters having provided the number respectively.
  • Southern states have lower proportions of Aadhaar registration compared to the national average, with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka falling shy of 71%, and Tamil Nadu and Kerala standing around 63% and 61%.
  • Gujarat has the lowest Aadhaar registration by voters, with only 31.5% of voters linking the document to their voter registration.
    • Also, less than 34% of voters in Delhi had their Aadhaar linked.

 

Why is the Government Pushing to Link Voter ID with Aadhaar?

  • Update Database:
    • The linking project would help the Election Commission, which conducts regular exercises to maintain an updated and accurate record of the voter base.
  • Remove Duplication:
    • To weed out duplication of voters, such as migrant workers who may have been registered more than once on the electoral rolls in different constituencies or for persons registered multiple times within the same constituency.
  • Pan India Voter ID:
    • As per the government, linkage of Aadhaar with voter IDs will assist in ensuring that only one Voter ID is issued per citizen of India.

 

What are the Issues Related to Linking Aadhaar with Voter ID?

  • Unclear Constitutional Status:
    • In the Puttaswamy case(Right to Privacy), one of the questions that the Supreme Court explored was whether the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts was constitutional or not.
  • Different Purpose:
    • The preference for Aadhaar for the purposes of determining voters is puzzling as Aadhaar is only proof of residence and not proof of citizenship.
      • Therefore, verifying voter identity against this will only help in tackling duplication but will not remove voters who are not citizens of India from the electoral rolls.

 

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/eci-allays-fears-on-duplicate-voter-id-numbers-says-will-ensure-unique-id/article69281569.ece