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EPIC-Aadhaar Linking: Election Commission Ensures Compliance with Law

 


The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reaffirmed that the linking of voter identity cards (EPIC) with Aadhaar will be carried out strictly by the rules and legal framework. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting involving the Union Home Secretary, Secretary of the Legislative Department, Secretary of MeitY, and the CEO of UIDAI, alongside technical experts.

Legal and Constitutional Safeguards

As per Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, the right to vote is exclusively granted to citizens of India. However, the Aadhaar card serves only as proof of identity, not citizenship.

An official statement clarified:

"The linking of EPIC with Aadhaar will be done only as per the provisions of Article 326 of the Constitution, Section 23(4), 23(5), and 23(6) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and in line with the Supreme Court judgment in WP (Civil) No. 177/2023."

Why is EPIC-Aadhaar Linking Important?

The initiative to link EPIC with Aadhaar was introduced in 2021 after an amendment to the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The ECI has been collecting Aadhaar numbers from voters on a voluntary basis since 2022. However, Aadhaar has so far been used only as an identity verification tool, not proof of eligibility to vote.

By linking Aadhaar with voter IDs, the ECI aims to:

✅ Eliminate bogus and duplicate voters
✅ Ensure transparency in electoral rolls
✅ Facilitate accurate voter identification
✅ Enhance communication with registered voters

With 99.1 crore registered voters as of January 2025, this move could significantly improve the accuracy of electoral data.

Technical Consultations to Begin Soon

The Election Commission has also announced technical consultations between UIDAI and ECI experts to finalize the framework for implementing the EPIC-Aadhaar link.

Additionally, the ECI has begun the process of replacing duplicate EPIC numbers with unique identifiers within the next three months. While duplicate EPIC numbers do not necessarily indicate fake voters, political parties have long demanded a clean and transparent electoral roll.

What’s Next?

The success of this initiative depends on ensuring privacy, data security, and voluntary participation by voters. With upcoming elections, this move could play a key role in strengthening India's democratic process by eliminating electoral fraud and ensuring fair elections.


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