Voter lists will no longer be misused, Election Commission launches e-sign facility

The Election Commission (EC) has launched a new e-sign feature for adding, correcting, or deleting names from the voter list. The EC's new move is aimed at preventing errors in online voter deletion and correction. OTP verification from the Aadhaar-linked mobile number will now be mandatory for every application.

Aadhaar linked mobile number is now required for change or deletion of voter ID, EC has launched a new e-sign feature.Image Credit source: Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Voter Aadhaar e-sign Feature: The Election Commission (EC) has made a major change to the online voter ID service. Verification using the mobile number linked to Aadhaar will now be required for adding, correcting, or deleting names from the voter list. For this, the EC has launched the e-sign feature on its ECINet portal and app. The Election Commission made this change following allegations of deletion of thousands of voters in Karnataka's Aland assembly constituency. Let's explore what e-sign is, how it will prevent misuse of the voter list, and what needs to be done to delete and update voter IDs.

What is e-sign facility?

E-Sign is an online electronic signature service provided by the Government of India through the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) that allows users to digitally sign documents using their Aadhaar number. This feature has now been extended to the verification process for deleting or correcting voter IDs.

Will the voter list not be misused?

Earlier, the form could only be submitted by linking the mobile number to the Voter ID number (EPIC), which often resulted in the wrong number being used. Now, under the e-sign feature, the applicant will have to enter the Aadhaar number and will receive an OTP on the Aadhaar-linked mobile number, and the form can be submitted only after giving consent. Only after the e-sign process is completed will the applicant be redirected to the ECINet portal to submit the form. This rule will apply to Form 6 (new registration), Form 7 (deletion/objection) and Form 8 (correction).

Why did the change happen?

Thousands of fraudulent voter deletion applications were reported in Karnataka's Aland assembly constituency. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised the issue on September 18th. An investigation found that only 24 of the 6,018 deletion requests were genuine, with the rest found to be false. In many cases, the mobile numbers used for OTP did not belong to actual voters. This incident prompted the EC to tighten security and verification procedures, leading to these changes.

Physical verification will be necessary

The EC states that no voter's name can be deleted directly online. Physical verification by the relevant Booth Level Officer (BLO) and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is required. In every case, the voter will be given a full opportunity to present their case.

What is ECINet?

ECINet, launched earlier this year, consolidates nearly 40 existing apps and portals, including ERONet. This platform allows voters to easily submit applications online and for officials to process them. The e-sign feature has been added to this platform to ensure transparency and security.

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