The initial decision to link Aadhaar with Voter IDs was taken in 2015, key features were.

• It was aimed at removing bogus or duplicate entries from the electoral roll.
• It was a voluntary exercise.
• However, it was stopped after the Supreme Court ruling on August 11, 2015, restricting Aadhaar usage to only 3 government schemes:
• Food grain distribution under PDS (Public Distribution System)
• PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana)
• MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005)

EC''s stand post-2018 Judgement:

• In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Aadhaar and said the government could restrict the Right to privacy if there is a specific law, and if it is proportional to a state aim. (KS Puttaswami vs Union of India)

• Subsequently, the proposal to link Aadhaar with electoral roll was reintroduced in 2019, ECI requested the government to amend election laws to enable the collection of Aadhaar details.
• To bring this to effect, the government brought Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, to enable linking of Aadhar with voter IDs.
• ECI amended Form 6 (new voters’ registration) to provide Aadhar details. It also introduced a new form ‘Form 6B’ to collect the Aadhar number of existing Voters.

Pros

• Elimination of duplicate entries: By linking Aadhaar with Voter ID, the system can effectively eliminate duplicate voter registrations, ensuring that each individual has only one voter ID. This will help maintain the integrity of electoral rolls and reduce the chances of electoral fraud.
• Improved accuracy in voter registration: The linkage allows for better verification of identity, ensuring that voters are registered in the correct electoral constituency. This can enhance the overall accuracy of the electoral rolls.
• Streamlined electoral process: Linking Aadhaar can simplify various electoral processes, making it easier for voters to update their registration details online. This convenience can encourage more citizens to participate in elections.
• Enhanced security measures: The biometric features associated with Aadhaar, such as fingerprints and iris scans, add an additional layer of security against identity theft and fraudulent voting practices.
• Facilitation of government services: Many government services require both Aadhaar and Voter ID for identification purposes. Linking them can streamline access to these services, making it easier for citizens to avail themselves of benefits.
• Assisting reforms: Aadhar linkage could be useful in reforms like remote voting, electronic and internet-based voting etc.

Cons

• Privacy: There are concerns regarding privacy and data security. Critics argue that linking these two identifiers could lead to political microtargeting, misuse of personal information and potential breaches of privacy.
• Risk of exclusion: Individuals who do not possess an Aadhaar card may face difficulties in voting or accessing related services. This could disproportionately affect marginalized groups not having an Aadhaar due to various socio-economic reasons.
• Deletion errors and disenfranchisement: The risk of errors in data entry or deliberate deletion could lead to genuine voters being disenfranchised, as seen during the National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) in 2018.
• Misuse by officials: Linking Aadhaar does not eliminate the possibility of administrative manipulation, such as wrongful deletion of voter names based on political motives.
• Voluntary nature: Although the linking is voluntary. Some individuals might feel pressured to link their Aadhaar due to misinformation or lack of clarity about the implications of not doing so.

While linking Aadhaar with Voter ID has several benefits like improving electoral integrity and accessibility by eliminating duplication of votes, there are concerns regarding privacy, exclusion, human integrity, impartiality, and objectivity which need to be addressed along with.