The Election Commission of India (ECI) has drafted a new proposal stating that voters who choose not to share their Aadhaar number will be required to appear before the Election Registration Officer (ERO) and explain their reason. This move aims to establish that providing an Aadhaar number remains entirely voluntary.
Aadhaar is widely used for government services and financial transactions, but it is not mandatory for voting. Citizens can cast their votes without linking their Aadhaar number to voter records. However, under the new proposal, those who refuse to provide their Aadhaar will need to justify their decision in person before an official.
According to reports, the Election Commission wants to document reasons for Aadhaar refusal to present in court if required. This will help prove that the process is optional and not a forced requirement.
An Election Registration Officer (ERO) is typically a civil service or revenue officer appointed by the Election Commission in consultation with state governments. Their role is to maintain, update, and verify the accuracy of the voter list within their assigned constituency.
As of 2023, the Election Commission has collected Aadhaar numbers from over 66 crore (660 million) voters. However, these numbers have not been linked to voter data yet. India currently has an estimated 98 crore (980 million) registered voters.
If the new proposal is implemented, voters unwilling to provide their 12-digit Aadhaar number must appear before an ERO and explain their reasons. The proposal was discussed in a high-level meeting on March 18, 2025, attended by officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of IT, and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Currently, voters use Form 6B to submit their Aadhaar details. This form has two options:
Provide the Aadhaar number
Declare, "I do not have an Aadhaar number."
This declaration forced those who didn’t want to share their Aadhaar to falsely claim they didn’t have one. Under the new proposal, this form may be removed entirely, and voters will instead need to justify their choice in person before an ERO.
If approved, this proposal could significantly impact voter registration and verification. While the government wants to ensure Aadhaar linking remains voluntary, making voters appear before an official might add an extra step to the process.
The Election Commission's proposal is designed to increase transparency in voter registration. However, it raises a critical question—will it simplify the process or create unnecessary hurdles for voters? The final decision will determine how Aadhaar plays a role in India’s electoral system in the future.
