Electoral Roll Discrepancies and Voter Duplication Concerns

Context:

• Recent State elections have witnessed a sharp increase in voter registrations compared to the 2024 General Elections.

• In Maharashtra, around 48 lakh new voters were reportedly added within just six months.

• The absence of a clear explanation from the Election Commission of India (ECI) has raised concerns about the credibility of electoral rolls.

Key Highlights:

• Electoral Discrepancies / Voter Roll Concerns

  • Sudden surge in voter additions creates suspicion of:

    • Irregular registrations

    • Weak verification processes

    • Possible manipulation before elections

  • Credible electoral rolls are central to free and fair elections.

• Issues with EPIC Numbers (Voter ID Duplication)

  • Reports of multiple voters sharing the same EPIC number highlight administrative lapses.

  • Risks involved:

    • Voter duplication

    • Electoral fraud

    • Reduced trust in democratic institutions

  • A major challenge is voters registering in multiple States, allowing potential voting in more than one location during closely scheduled elections.

• Aadhaar and Voter Verification Debate

  • The ECI has suggested Aadhaar linkage to address duplication.

  • However, Aadhaar has limitations:

    • Aadhaar identifies residents, not necessarily citizens → not a foolproof citizenship proof.

    • Risk of privacy violations through profiling and surveillance.

    • Biometric authentication failures may exclude genuine voters, especially the poor and elderly.

• Governance and Constitutional Concerns

  • Electoral reforms must balance:

    • Integrity of elections

    • Protection of fundamental rights like privacy

  • Aadhaar-related concerns connect to the Puttaswamy Judgment (2017) on the Right to Privacy.

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue: Electoral roll discrepancies and duplication of EPIC numbers.

• Causes:

  • Rapid voter registrations without transparent verification

  • Lack of robust inter-State voter database integration

  • Weak de-duplication mechanisms

• Government/ECI Initiative:

  • Proposal for Aadhaar-based linkage with voter lists

• Benefits of De-duplication:

  • Ensures “one person, one vote”

  • Reduces electoral fraud

  • Strengthens democratic legitimacy

• Challenges:

  • Aadhaar not proof of citizenship

  • Privacy and surveillance risks

  • Exclusion errors due to biometric failures

• Impact:

  • Persistent discrepancies can undermine public trust in elections

  • Raises governance and institutional accountability concerns

Relevant Mains Points:

• Key Facts & Definitions:

  • EPIC (Electors Photo Identification Card): Unique voter identity document issued by ECI.

  • Electoral rolls must remain accurate for ensuring fair representation.

• Governance Dimensions:

  • Electoral integrity is essential for democratic governance.

  • Transparency in voter registration is a key institutional responsibility of the ECI.

• Constitutional and Rights Perspective:

  • Aadhaar linkage must satisfy principles of:

    • Necessity

    • Proportionality

    • Safeguards

  • Privacy concerns arise under Article 21 post Puttaswamy verdict.

• Way Forward:

  • Implement a transparent de-duplication process ensuring one EPIC per voter.

  • Supplement Aadhaar with alternative verification methods like:

    • Passport

    • Birth certificates

    • Citizenship documentation

  • Strengthen inter-State coordination and voter database integration.

  • Ensure privacy safeguards and avoid exclusion of genuine voters.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS 2 (Governance): Electoral reforms, institutional transparency, voter roll management, privacy vs integrity balance

• GS 2 (Polity): Free and fair elections, Election Commission’s role, constitutional safeguards