Aadhaar Card Approved as Valid Voter ID Document in Bihar
The Election Commission of India has directed polling authorities in Bihar to accept the Aadhaar card as a valid document for establishing identity during the electoral roll revision process. The directive follows a Supreme Court order and designates Aadhaar as the 12th official identity document for voters. The Commission clarified that the card serves as proof of identity, not citizenship, and warned that any refusal to accept it in accordance with the new directive will be treated with "utmost seriousness."
Unpacked:
The Election Commission hesitated earlier due to privacy concerns and Supreme Court restrictions, which initially limited Aadhaar’s use to welfare schemes. There were also worries about possible disenfranchisement and the lack of robust data standards for linking Aadhaar with voter IDs.
No, the Aadhaar card is only proof of identity and residency, not citizenship. The Election Commission and Supreme Court clarified that possessing Aadhaar doesn’t confer voting rights to non-citizens; citizenship verification is handled separately.
The Supreme Court estimated around 3.5 million (35 lakh) voters in Bihar were excluded due to dead or duplicate entries in the voter rolls. These individuals can now use Aadhaar, among other documents, to re-establish identity for re-inclusion.
Proponents argue linking Aadhaar with voter IDs helps eliminate duplicates and increases transparency. Critics warn that data security flaws, lack of consent, and past disenfranchisement cases—like the removal of 3 million voters in Telangana—highlight risks of exclusion and privacy violations.