EC mandates Aadhaar-linked phone for voter deletion

After Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of large-scale fraudulent voter deletion in Karnataka’s Aland Assembly constituency, the Election Commission of India (EC) has rolled out a new security feature to tighten voter identity verification. The EC has introduced an electronic signature (e-sign) requirement on its ECINet portal and app, mandating that anyone seeking to register as a voter, or apply for deletion or correction in the electoral roll, must authenticate their identity through an Aadhaar-linked mobile phone number. This comes as part of efforts to curb misuse and enhance the integrity of the voter list.

Previously, voters could submit forms on the EC portal by simply linking a phone number to their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) with no verification to confirm ownership. The new e-sign feature requires applicants to enter their Aadhaar number and verify it by receiving a One-Time Password (OTP) on the phone number linked with that Aadhaar. Only after successful verification can they submit applications such as Form 6 (new voter registration), Form 7 (objection for deletion), or Form 8 (correction).

This change was prompted by Rahul Gandhi’s public claim that in 2023, around 6,000 names were fraudulently sought to be deleted from voter rolls in Aland. According to him, the misuse involved impersonation where identities of genuine voters were hijacked, and OTPs were sent to phone numbers not owned by the respective voters. Although the EC dismissed the allegation that votes could be deleted online by the public as incorrect, it acknowledged some suspicious deletion attempts had taken place. Following physical verification, only 24 deletion requests were found valid, while nearly 6,000 were rejected, and an FIR was filed to investigate.

The EC has clarified that deletion of names from voter rolls cannot occur without giving the affected person an opportunity to be heard, ensuring that the process is not arbitrary or unilateral. The introductions of the e-sign verification step address loopholes that allowed misuse of voter details without proper authentication, making fraudulent deletions significantly more difficult to perform.

ECINet, the portal where these applications are made, is a consolidation of about 40 earlier EC apps and portals, serving as the central platform for voter registration and verification processes. It allows voters to submit applications online and election officials to manage and verify these requests. Booth Level Officers and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for inquiring into suspicious applications and ensuring correctness before any change is approved.

From a wider perspective, the introduction of Aadhaar-based phone verification marks a significant step toward ensuring electoral roll integrity amid rising concerns about digital fraud. While some civil society voices have expressed concerns that linking Aadhaar with voter ID could raise privacy or fairness issues, the EC’s move focuses on pragmatic security improvements aligned with the increasing digitization of electoral processes. The underlying principle remains to balance confidentiality and convenience with transparent, fraud-resistant systems.

In conclusion, the EC’s initiative to mandate Aadhaar-linked phone authentication for online voter list modifications provides a robust safeguard against identity misuse. It exemplifies a response mechanism by electoral authorities to public allegations and real-world vulnerabilities, reinforcing trust in the democratic process without compromising the rights of genuine voters. Such measures are crucial in an era where the misuse of technology can threaten electoral fairness, making the reforms timely and necessary for credible elections in India.

With inputs from agencies

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