Concerns with Aadhaar-Voter ID Linkage

The linkage of Aadhaar with voter ID cards, as pushed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), raises significant concerns about voting rights and privacy. Although it is presented as a voluntary measure, in practice, it is coercive, with Form 6B offering limited options for opting out. By September 2023, over 66 crore Aadhaar numbers had been linked to voter IDs, often through questionable data-sharing practices and legal frameworks.

Impact on Voting Rights

• Mass Disenfranchisement: Linking Aadhaar with voter IDs has historically led to disenfranchisement, as seen in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where 55 lakh voters were removed from electoral rolls.
• Inconsistent with Legal Principles: The Supreme Court mandates procedural fairness in electoral roll deletions, a standard not met by the current linkage process.
• Barriers to Participation: The requirement for physical appearance before an Electoral Registration Officer disproportionately affects vulnerable groups like the elderly and disabled.

Aadhaar's Limitations

• Not Proof of Citizenship: Aadhaar is a residency-based system, not citizenship-based, as outlined in Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
• Database Reliability Issues: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report highlighted issues with Aadhaar’s reliability, such as duplicated and erroneous entries.

Risks of Surveillance and Political Profiling

• Potential for Exploitation: The linkage could allow for cross-referencing voter data with other databases, facilitating voter profiling and micro-targeting.
• Government Exemptions: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, provides broad exemptions for government entities, risking data misuse for political purposes.

Constitutional and Ethical Concerns

• Undermines Electoral Integrity: Entrusting UIDAI, a statutory body, with electoral data undermines the ECI's independent authority.
• Privacy Infringement: The linkage infringes on citizens' right to privacy, as recognized in various legal judgments.

Recommendations

Rather than relying on Aadhaar linkage, the ECI should strengthen traditional voter verification methods, including:

• Door-to-Door Verification: Conducted by booth level officers to ensure accuracy.
• Independent Audits: Comprehensive electoral roll audits to identify discrepancies.
• Public Grievance Redressal: Functional frameworks to address voter concerns.
• Social Audits: To enhance accountability and prevent manipulation.

The right to vote, a constitutional guarantee, must be protected against unreasonable burdens, unreliable verification systems, and political profiling. The Aadhaar-voter ID linkage currently endangers these principles.