Context:
A controversy emerged in Karnataka’s Aland Assembly constituency after Rahul Gandhi alleged attempts to illegally delete voters’ names from the electoral rolls ahead of elections. The issue has brought renewed focus on the legal provisions, administrative safeguards, and digital vulnerabilities involved in the electoral roll revision process, overseen by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Key Highlights:
Allegations & Political Context
- 6,018 voters were allegedly targeted for deletion from the Aland constituency electoral rolls (2023).
- Deletion requests were reportedly filed online without voters’ knowledge or consent.
- The Karnataka CID sent 18 letters to the ECI seeking clarifications and data.
Legal Framework Governing Voter Deletion
- Governed by the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1950.
- Section 22 empowers Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to:
- Correct entries
- Transpose names
- Delete names after due inquiry
- Form 7 is the prescribed form for:
- Objections to inclusion
- Requests for deletion of a voter’s name
Valid Grounds for Deletion
- Death of the elector
- Permanent migration from the constituency
- Ineligibility due to:
- Non-citizenship
- Below prescribed voting age
Digital & Administrative Process
- Form 7 submission modes:
- Online via ECI Voter Portal or ECINet App
- Offline submission to Booth Level Officer (BLO)
- Forms are processed through ERONet, a centralized system.
- Mandatory safeguards include:
- Notice to the elector
- Opportunity of hearing
- Field verification by BLO
Systemic Gaps & Concerns
- Online Form 7 requires only an EPIC-linked account, not full identity verification.
- Possibility of misuse by:
- Linking another voter’s EPIC to a different mobile number
- Filing deletion requests fraudulently
- Raises concerns over digital security and electoral integrity.
Key Concepts Involved:
- Electoral Roll: Official list of eligible voters.
- ERO (Electoral Registration Officer): Authority responsible for roll maintenance.
- BLO (Booth Level Officer): Ground-level verifier of voter data.
- EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card): Identity document issued by ECI.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue & Causes
- Alleged misuse of online voter deletion mechanism
- Weak digital verification processes
- Government / Institutional Safeguards
- RP Act, 1950
- Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
- Mandatory inquiry and hearing before deletion
- Benefits of Digitisation
- Faster roll updates
- Greater accessibility
- Challenges
- Identity authentication gaps
- Risk of electoral manipulation
- Impact
- Potential voter disenfranchisement
- Erosion of trust in electoral processes
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Legal Provisions
- Section 22, RP Act, 1950
- Role of ECI as an autonomous constitutional body under Article 324
- Conceptual Linkages
- Electoral integrity
- Free and fair elections
- Technology in governance
- Keywords
- Voter disenfranchisement, digital governance, electoral reforms
- Way Forward
- Strengthen identity verification for online Form 7 submissions
- Introduce multi-factor authentication for electoral services
- Regular audits of digital electoral databases
- Enhance voter awareness about roll revision processes
- Balance ease of access with robust safeguards
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS Paper 2: Polity, elections, Election Commission, democratic governance
- Prelims: RP Act, 1950; Form 7; ERO; BLO; EPIC