The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a major change to the voter registration process by making Aadhaar-linked mobile number verification mandatory for all online voter roll changes. This requirement will apply to new registrations, deletions, and corrections submitted through the ECINet portal or the Voter Helpline app.
The decision aims to strengthen the integrity of India’s electoral rolls and ensure secure and transparent voting processes. Under the new rule, applicants must link their mobile numbers with their Aadhaar before making any changes to the electoral rolls. The verification process will involve a one-time password (OTP) sent to the registered mobile number.
An ECI spokesperson said, “This step will improve the accuracy of electoral data and help prevent fraudulent entries. Aadhaar-linked verification will make voter roll management more reliable and efficient.”
The mandate covers:
- New registrations for first-time voters.
- Deletions of outdated or incorrect entries.
- Corrections to details such as name, address, or date of birth.
While experts have welcomed the move as a step toward modernizing the electoral system, concerns have been raised about accessibility, especially in rural areas with limited mobile connectivity and Aadhaar linking facilities. The ECI has assured that public awareness campaigns and facilitation centres will be set up to assist citizens.
The change is expected to improve electoral transparency and accuracy. However, privacy advocates have raised concerns over Aadhaar-linked data, calling for stronger safeguards. The ECI has stated that all data will be protected in accordance with existing privacy laws.
This reform is seen as a significant step toward integrating technology into India’s democratic processes. The success of this initiative will depend on effective implementation, outreach, and addressing accessibility and privacy concerns.
