Poll panel wants voter ids to be linked with Aadhar

The Election Commission has announced Aadhar-linking of its voter identity cards despite the Supreme Court’s reservations over the Aadhar card.

The Commission has written to heads of specific ministries/departments to ask all employees to access the National Voters Service Portal and link their Aadhar number with their Electors Photo Identity Card.

The portal was launched earlier this year as part of the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Programme. Its main objective is to bring out an error-free and authenticated electoral roll.

A letter from Umesh Sinha, Deputy Election Commissioner, addressed to Hasmukh Adhia, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, sought the latter’s support in getting all employees under the ministry/department to link their Aadhar number with their photo id.

A copy of the letter has been forwarded to chief executives of all banks/financial institutions and insurance companies in the public sector; Executive Director, Reserve Bank; Chairman, National Housing Bank, Nabard, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority; and CEO, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.

The letter said the Election Commission’s initiatives had resulted in record registration of electors during the last three-four years and also record turnout in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. However, two major challenges remained – facilitating registrations and ensuring error-free electoral rolls.

It is in this context that the EPIC data of a voter is being sought to be linked with the Aadhar number for authentication and removal of duplicate entries.