Aadhaar-linked voter rolls among reforms being pursued by ECI

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India is pushing for at least five key electoral reforms including making paid news an electoral offence, linking Aadhaar numbers to the electoral rolls, and increasing the punishment for filing a false affidavit (to two years of imprisonment), and has written to the government in this regard, an official familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

ECI has written to the law ministry urging it to “expeditiously” address electoral reforms that are pending with the government, which also includes multiple registration dates in a year for new voters, the official added. There are nearly 40 proposals pending with the ministry.

Elections in the states of Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are due next year.

ECI has been considering a wide range of electoral reforms to usher in digitisation, removing duplication of voters and enabling remote voting for non-resident Indians (NRIS), even migrant workers within the country. “The commission on May 17, sent a reminder to the law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to revisit the reforms,” the official cited in the first instance said.

Political leaders and experts argue that while some of the reforms mentioned are good, the focus should instead be on countering hate speech and bringing transparency to the electoral bond process. The proposed reforms will require amendments to the Representation of People’s Act, 1951.