ID vs. Unique ID Confusion
An ID identifies eligibility for specific roles (like voting or driving), while a Unique ID verifies the individual's identity.
The Election Commission (ECI) claimed Voter IDs were unique in 2008
The ECI’s recent attempt to link Voter IDs with Aadhaar admits the original claim was false, showing a long-standing confusion.
The difference between an ID and a Unique ID is often misunderstood, leading to governance issues like voter list duplications.
Maharashtra Election as a Turning Point
In 5 months (April to November 2024), Maharashtra added 40 lakh new voters—more than in the previous 5 years (32 lakh), raising doubts.
This surge in voter registrations defies common sense, indicating possible duplication or fake entries.
West Bengal also showed multiple voters sharing the same Voter ID number.
The ECI’s earlier claim that each Voter ID was unique has been proven false through these discrepancies.
The Aadhaar Linking Dilemma
Linking Aadhaar with Voter IDs can help prevent duplication due to Aadhaar’s biometric verification.
For effective de-duplication, 100% Aadhaar linkage is necessary, but Aadhaar is optional, creating a legal conflict.
The ECI’s challenge is to balance the need for clean voter lists without violating the optional nature of Aadhaar under the law.
The linkage process requires rigorous checks to ensure that Aadhaar linkage does not result in disenfranchising eligible voters.
Ensuring Fairness in Voting
Aadhaar linkage can prevent fraudulent voting practices, like multiple votes by the same person using ink-removal chemicals.
The ECI must guarantee that no eligible voter will be denied the right to vote due to Aadhaar-related issues.
This guarantee should be given under oath, unlike the 2008 assurance about the uniqueness of Voter IDs, which was later found to be inaccurate.
The integrity of voter lists is crucial for democracy, as emphasized by Babasaheb Ambedkar in 1949, who warned about the sanctity of voter lists.
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