Election Commission flags key hurdles to creating a common electoral roll
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed a parliamentary panel about the prerequisites for a common electoral roll, including a uniform qualifying date and standardized roll preparation. The ECI is also considering amendments related to linking Aadhaar with voter ID, emphasizing its voluntary nature.
New Delhi: A uniform qualifying date, a standardised system of preparing electoral rolls by states, and synchronising delimitation of assembly constituencies with panchayats and municipal wards are some of the prerequisites for a common electoral roll for all elections, the poll panel has informed a parliamentary panel.This submission of the poll panel to a parliamentary panel gains significance as it comes amid criticism over the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.
The Election Commission of India has also informed the parliamentary committee that a new Form 6B has been devised for electors to provide their Aadhaar details voluntarily. However, linking of Aadhaar with voter ID is fraught in legal complications.The poll panel also stated that it is considering amendments and modifications to the relevant provisions related to linking of Aadhaar with Voter ID and enrolment forms in view of the Supreme Court's direction in the matter.It underlined that linking of Aadhaar with voter ID card is voluntary and not obligatory.
All these submissions of the Election Commissions of the poll panel were noted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its action taken report on 'Specific Aspects of Election Process and Their Reform'. The commission, responding to the parliamentary panel's recommendation for common electoral rolls, has underlined that it shares its electoral rolls with state election commissioners of 32 states and UTs.For one common electoral roll the poll panel said, "A uniform system of preparation of electoral rolls by State Election Commissions (SECs) as well as a uniform qualifying date, section details within polling stations under a constituency, needs to be prepared as per the extent of the ward area of Panchayat and Municipal Council Elections."Delimitation of Panchayat and Municipal Council wards, done frequently at the time of elections or after every census, would require alignment with the delimitation of the assembly constituency and the same system of nomenclature and numbering of wards in rural and urban areas across all states, are also required for common electoral rolls, the panel said.In the same parliamentary panel report, the Law Ministry, which is the administrative ministry for ECI, has suggested that the issue of common electoral rolls is linked with one nation one election.
On the issue of amending the Representation of the People's Act 1951, for making candidates ineligible for filing false information and affidavit, the poll panel has said it has already made a recommendation in the same nature, while the Law Ministry said it would consider the recommendation when electoral reforms would be carried out in future.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
11 minutes ago
- The Hindu
ECI stands 'thoroughly exposed' for incompetence, partisanship: Congress
The Congress on Sunday (August 17, 2025) alleged that the Election Commission stood "thoroughly exposed" not only for its "incompetence" but also for its "blatant partisanship" after the poll body hit out at the Opposition party for its "vote chori" charges. Rahul Gandhi 'Vote Adhikaar Yatra': Follow LIVE updates from Bihar on August 17, 2025 The Congress also termed as "laughable" the claims made by the EC that it makes no distinction between the ruling party and the Opposition. Also Read | Utmost transparency in preparing electoral rolls: Election Commission of India Soon after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two election commissioners addressed a press conference over the Congress' charges, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh asked whether the poll body would implement the Supreme Court's August 14 orders in letter and spirit. 'Today, a short while after Shri Rahul Gandhi launched the INDIA janbandhan's Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, the CEC and his two ECs began by saying they make no distinction between the ruling party and the opposition.' Today, the Election Commission of India held a press conference. This was the first time this 'new' ECI was speaking directly and not planting through sources. Yesterday, the ECI had released a 'Press Note', the purpose of which was to place the onus of voter list correction on… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 17, 2025 "This is laughable, to put it very mildly, in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary. Notably, the CEC answered none of the pointed questions raised by Shri Rahul Gandhi meaningfully," Mr. Ramesh said in a post on X.
India Today
11 minutes ago
- India Today
House No. 0 to name duplications: EC's big counter to Rahul Gandhi's charges
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday countered allegations of "vote chori" or electoral fraud to win elections levelled by the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, and vouched for the voting process in the world's largest democracy. He also said that no complaints would be accepted on the draft list of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being conducted in Bihar after September naming Rahul Gandhi, CEC Kumar said that the data in the "PPT presentation" wasn't provided by the Election Commission India (ECI), and, anyway, it was a "wrong analysis". He challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to submit an affidavit on his allegations within seven days or "apologise to the nation".Fielding questions from journalists, CEC Kumar countered each and every allegation levelled by Rahul Gandhi in a presser on August 7 in which the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha claimed large-scale manipulation in the electoral list by the ECI in collusion with the BJP. He cited examples from the Mahadevapura assembly segment of Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka. The Assembly elections in Karnataka, which the Congress won, were held in May Congress leader used the electoral list from Mahadevpura to allege that it was indicative of the fraud that was perpetrated across the issues Rahul Gandhi highlighted in the press conference were duplicate entries of individuals, addresses with house number zero, and dozens of voters from a small how the Election Commission countered the three big points raised by Rahul ON HOUSE NUMBER ZERO CHARGE BY RAHUL GANDHIThe Election Commission said there were lakhs of houses in several panchayat areas that didn't have house number as part of their Kumar said it was out of question to leave out voters, and, therefore a "notional number", which is zero, was assigned to such said there are people who stay under bridges, near lampposts, and in unauthorised colonies in cities, and the poll body tries to not leave out any voter and assigns them address wasn't a prerequisite for voting, said Kumar, adding that "nationality, proximity to the booth and age of 18 years" were the key NAMES IN ELECTORAL ROLLSThe Election Commission said allegations were raised on duplicate voting by some Kumar said it was one thing to have a voter's name in more than one booth, and quite another to actually cast votes at two places."Even if a voter has his name in two places, he votes in one. It is a criminal offence to cast votes in two places," said CEC Kumar, asking those levelling charges of duplicate voting to furnish asked for proof, no answer was given... The Election Commission wants to make it clear that it fearlessly stood, stands and will stand like a rock with all the voters of all religions and all sections of the society," Kumar added.22 LAKH DEATHS IN 6 MONTHS AND ELECTORAL ROLL SANCTITYAssuring people on the sanctity of the electoral rolls, the Election Commission said that the Special Intensive Revision was being held for that on misrepresentation of data that 22 lakh voters had died in the last six months in Bihar, between the Special Summary Revision and the Special Intensive Revision, CEC Kumar said that the deaths were those unreported to the EC in the last 20 years.A Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was last conducted 20 years ago, and since then, only summary revision of electoral rolls has taken place. An SIR involves door-to-door verification drive, while a summary revision takes into account new voters and those reported that India is the largest democracy, and the Election Commission had an electoral list with 90-100 crore voters, CEC Kumar vouched for the list's and the process's sanctity."One needs to have the stomach to listen to and understand the truth," he said, in reference to the press conference conducted by Rahul Gandhi in which he alleged manipulation by the EC to help the BJP win the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Though the ECI official didn't name anyone, the hard-hitting responses were clearly directed at the Congress leader.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Hindustan Times
11 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Jairam Ramesh hits back at Election Commission: 'Laughable, didn't answer anything'
Congress leader and general secretary Jairam Ramesh hit out at the Election Commission of India on Sunday after the poll body's press conference over the SIR row in Bihar and the 'vote theft' charge raised by Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leader further added that the EC opposed every single instruction issued by the Supreme Court regarding the publication of 65 lakh deleted names during the special intensive revision in Bihar.(PTI) Taking to X, the Congress leader slammed the EC for "not answering" any of the questions regarding 'vote theft'. "Today, a short while after Shri. Rahul Gandhi launched the INDIA janbandhan's Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, the CEC and his two ECs began by saying they make no distinction between the ruling party and the opposition. This is laughable, to put it very mildly, in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary. Notably, the CEC answered none of the pointed questions raised by Shri. Rahul Gandhi meaningfully," said Ramesh. Also Read | 'You have called my voters a liar?': CEC on opposition's 'vote chori' allegations The Congress leader further added that the EC opposed every single instruction issued by the Supreme Court regarding the publication of 65 lakh deleted names during the special intensive revision in Bihar. "Today's Press Conference also came three days after the Supreme Court had rejected every single one of the arguments made by the ECI to prevent the publication of the 65 lakh deleted voters during the Bihar SIR. Despite the vehement and documented objections of the ECI, the Supreme Court directed the publication, in a searchable format, of these 65 lakh voters with all their details. It had also allowed the use of AADHAR ID's to be proof of voter identity. The ECI had opposed every single one of these instructions of the Supreme Court," Ramesh added. Earlier today in Bihar, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi vowed to expose vote chori across India. "The entire country knows what the Election Commission is doing. Earlier, the country did not know how votes were being stolen. But we made it clear in the press conference how votes are being stolen. Whenever the theft is happening, whether in Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, Bengal, we will catch the theft and working to show the people," said Gandhi. Election Commission hits back In its press conference on Sunday, the Election Commission attacked the Congress and the opposition, accusing them of spreading misinformation. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar rejected the "vote chori" allegations as "baseless". The CEC further added that all stakeholders of the poll body are working to make Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar a success in a transparent manner. "It is a matter of grave concern that some parties and their leaders are spreading misinformation on SIR in Bihar… some political parties are firing from the Election Commission's shoulder. The EC exhorts all political parties to file claims and objections on draft electoral rolls in Bihar … 15 days are still remaining," said CEC Kumar.
