Now Aadhaar will be linked with Voter ID: Rajya Sabha approves the election reform bill, the disturbance caused by fake voter card can be stopped

An important bill for electoral reforms in the country has been passed in the Rajya Sabha. The bill was passed amid uproar from the opposition. Earlier, the Lok Sabha had approved it on Monday itself. After the approval of both the houses, the bill for election reform will be sent for the President’s signature. Under this, there is a provision to link the Aadhaar number with the voter ID card.

Earlier, when the cabinet approved this bill, it was said that linking Aadhaar with voter card will prevent the fraud caused by fake voter ID cards. The government had taken this decision on the basis of the recommendation of the Election Commission.

On the other hand, the bill to increase the legal age of marriage of girls from 18 to 21 years could not be passed in the Lok Sabha. Amidst the uproar of the opposition, the bill was sent to the Parliamentary Committee for consideration. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani introduced the Child Marriage Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2021 in the House. Due to the uproar, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till December 22.

Opposition MPs created a ruckus during the proceedings, yet the bill was passed.

Understand the importance of the bill in question and answer…
1. Why the decision to link Aadhaar and Voter Card?
The Election Commission had recommended linking of voter card with Aadhaar, so that the voter list is more transparent and fake voters can be removed. By linking Aadhaar with voter card, a person will not be able to have more than one voter card.

2. What will happen if the voter card is linked with Aadhaar?
It is seen many times that a person’s name is in the voter list of his city and he is living in another city for a long time. Due to this, he also gets his name added in the voter list of another city. In such a situation, his name remains in the voter list in both the places. Once linked with Aadhaar, a voter’s name will be in the voter list only at one place. That is, a person will be able to cast his vote only at one place.

3. Will everyone have to link voter card with Aadhaar?
At present, linking Aadhaar with voter card will not be mandatory but optional. That is, if you do not want to link your voter card with Aadhaar, then you will not be forced to do so.

4. Will this threaten the privacy of the common man?
No, the right to privacy decision of the Supreme Court in the matter of linking Aadhaar and voter card will be taken into account. The government will take steps to give more powers to the Election Commission.

5. What will be the benefit of this?
The Election Commission of India has been advocating for multiple ‘cutoff dates’ for eligible people to be registered as voters. The Election Commission had told the government that due to the cutoff date of January 1, many people were left out of the voter list exercise. Due to only one cutoff date, persons who had completed 18 years of age on January 2 were not able to register. Because of this he had to wait 1 year.

Has this rule been implemented?
No, now this bill will be introduced in both the houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha). After the bill is passed from here, it is sent to the President for approval. It will become law only after getting their approval.

Opportunity to get Voter ID made 4 times in a year
The proposed bill will also allow the youth of the country to register themselves as voters on four different dates every year. That is, to become a voter, now four dates in a year will be considered as the cutoff. Till now only youth who turn 18 on or before January 1 every year are allowed to register as voters.

In 2015 also started the work of linking voter ID with Aadhaar
The Election Commission started the process of linking voter cards and Aadhaar numbers in 2015 as part of its National Electoral Roll Refinement and Authentication Program (NERPAP). Later, the Election Commission decided to drop the program in view of the Supreme Court’s decision prohibiting the use of Aadhaar.