NEW DELHI: In December 2021, the Lok Sabha handed the ‘Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021,’ aiming to attach electoral roll information with the Aadhaar ecosystem and introduce important ballot reforms. Despite a quick debate and opposition calls to refer the invoice to a standing committee, it gained approval.
Government’s Defense: Long-Awaited Reforms
Defending the invoice, the federal government highlighted that it encompasses varied electoral reforms which have been long-discussed. The Union Cabinet had beforehand cleared the invoice on electoral reforms, allowing the Election Commission to voluntarily seed Aadhaar numbers with electoral rolls.
Key Reforms And Opposition Criticism
The invoice launched a number of essential reforms, together with making electoral regulation gender-neutral for service voters and permitting new voters to enrol on 4 completely different dates yearly. Despite opposition criticism, the federal government emphasised that linking Aadhaar with electoral rolls would handle the persistent subject of a number of enrollments, contributing to the enhancement and cleaning of the voters’ record.
Crucial Proposed Reforms
Voluntary Aadhar Linkage: The major proposal among the many 4 reforms permits the Election Commission to hyperlink Aadhaar numbers with electoral rolls on a voluntary foundation.
Quarterly Voter Registration: The second important proposal entails conducting the voter registration course of 4 occasions a 12 months, providing extra alternatives for people turning 18 after January 1 to take part in elections held in the identical 12 months.
Multiple Cut-off Dates: Recognizing the limitation of the present January 1 deadline, the Election Commission sought a number of deadlines for voter enrollment—January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
Gender Neutrality for Service Voters: The reforms additionally goal gender neutrality in service voters, addressing the disparity the place a military man’s spouse is entitled to enrol as a service voter, however not a lady military officer’s husband.
Empowering ECI: The remaining proposal empowers the Election Commission to take over any premise for the conduct of elections, addressing objections raised in opposition to the ballot physique’s use of colleges and comparable premises.
The Rationale Behind Aadhar Seeding
The Union Law Ministry conveyed that the Election Commission aimed to make the most of the Aadhaar database to make sure the preparation of an error-free electoral roll and forestall the duplication of entries. The transfer was thought of important for the deduplication of electoral information, requiring amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
Challenges And Objections
The Supreme Court’s intervention in August 2015, citing privateness considerations, halted the National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) utilizing Aadhaar numbers. Despite a short lived assortment of Aadhaar numbers throughout that interval, the authorized constraints prompted the Election Commission to method the Law Ministry in 2019 with a contemporary proposal.
The Standing Committee, in its a hundred and first report, acknowledged the potential intrusion into privateness however emphasised the need of an error-free electoral roll at no cost and truthful elections. Concerns over the misuse of private information and disenfranchisement had been raised, aligning with the Supreme Court’s cautious method in the direction of Aadhaar utilization inside authorities companies.
Recent Developments And Law Ministry’s Response
The Election Commission’s latest proposal to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and voter enrolment types has been reportedly rejected by the Union Law Ministry. The proposed modifications, looking for to remove the requirement for voters to supply causes for not seeding Aadhaar with the voter ID card, had been deemed pointless within the absence of particular instructions from the Supreme Court.
EC Seeks Amendments Amid Ongoing Debate
The change between the Election Commission and the Law Ministry continues, with the EC proposing amendments to Sections 23(6) and 28(2)(hhhb) of the RP Act 1950, looking for the deletion of the “sufficient cause” requirement. Additionally, modifications are sought in Form 6 for brand new voter enrolment to make sure potential voters aren’t compelled to declare their motive for not offering UID particulars.
As the controversy persists, the Election Commission strives to strike a steadiness between electoral integrity and privateness considerations, navigating the evolving panorama of Aadhaar integration within the electoral course of.
