The Election Commission (EC) has decided to link Voter ID cards with Aadhaar, a move that has sparked a reaction from the Congress party. The EC stated that this decision follows concerns about mismatched voter lists in Maharashtra's Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Congress has warned that while linking Voter ID to Aadhaar could prevent fake or duplicate voters, it should not violate privacy or deny any citizen their right to vote. The move will be voluntary, with 65 crore people already linking their Aadhaar.
A high-level meeting between the UIDAI CEO, Home Secretary, Law Secretary, and Chief Election Commissioner led to the decision. The EC said it would proceed under Article 326 of the Representation of the People Act and relevant Supreme Court rulings.
The Home Ministry will also work with the EC to address identity issues in border districts. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled Aadhaar could be used for government benefits but not for bank accounts or mobile numbers.
To remove duplicate voter IDs, the EC has set a three-month deadline. Congress, which raised concerns about fake voters after the Maharashtra elections, acknowledged that linking Aadhaar could help eliminate the issue of multiple voter IDs under one name.
