Voter deletion controversy in India: Online system to remove names from Electroal rolls

Why in News ?

• Recently, Aland constituency case in Karnataka has brought attention nationwide. Voter deletion were seen which specifically means to the removal of names from the electoral rolls.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 are the constitutional provisions which deal with it.

Legal Provisions for Voter Deletion

Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950

• Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) made responsible to make any corrections and deletions regarding voters to the electoral roll.
• Deletions can be done:
  • If the person has passed away.
  • If the person is no longer a resident in the constituency.
  • If the person is found ineligible in the case of underage or non-citizen.

Registration of Electors Rules, 1960

• This Prescribes Form 7 for any objections about inclusion or deletion of names.
• Electors can  :
  • Delete their own name.
  • Raise objections against another elector's inclusion.
• Ways to submit the Form-7:
  • By online through  the ECI Voter Portal.
  • By using  the ECI Net App.
  • To Booth Level Officer (BLO) in person.

Aland Constituency in  Karnataka  controversy

Detail

• It is alleged that 6000 voter names were deleted from electoral rolls in 2023 in Aland Constituency.
• The deletions were reportedly carried out online without the knowledge of the affected individuals.

Further development

• The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) started an inquiry based on the report filed.
• As a procedural measure Booth Level Officers (BLOs) did their work and finally filed an First Information Report (FIR) on February 21, 2023.
• It is found in the investigation that:
  • 24 were found to be legitimate out of 6,018 deleted names.
  • 5,994 were deemed false and hence rejected out of 6,018.

Process to voter deletion 

• Submission of Voter Deletion Form (Form-7)
  • Form-7 is to be filled at first, to request for deletion of voter from electoral roll. This form-7 comes under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
  • Who Can Apply:
    • The voter themselves.
    • Any other citizen of India can raise an objection about a voter’s inclusion.
• Ways to Submit Form -7
  • Online Submission
    • Using government portal - National Voters’ Service Portal (NVSP)
    • Using Voter Helpline Mobile App
  • Offline Submission
    • Submit Form 7 physically at the local electoral office also known as Booth Level Officers (BLO).
    • Forwarded to Electoral registration officers (ERO) for verification.
• Verification Process is initiated by ELO and notice is given to electors and 7 days period are given to respond to them
• Tracking and Status
  • Online: Track using the reference number on NVSP or Voter Helpline app.
  • Offline: ERO or BLO can provide updates on the status of the request.

Challenges in the online voter deletion system

• No Mandatory Proof at Submission
  • Form 7 does not need supporting evidence at the time of filing for deletion of names.
  • Depends only on the applicant’s self-declaration, which can be misused or falsified.
• Weak Verification of Identity
  • There is no proper system to verify the truthness of the EPIC number and phone number belong to the applicant.
  • It is quite possible to link someone else’s EPIC with another phone number, which can cause fraudulent deletions.
• Risk of Bulk Deletions
  • Without being detected immediately mass removal of voter’s names is possible. 
• Delayed Detection Mechanism
  • Wrongful deletions are generally caught only during the ERO inquiry despite having proper safeguard, not at initial time of application.

Ethical Dimensions 

1. Right to Vote as a constitutional right
   • Article 326 of the Constitution deals with voting rights.
   • Improper deletion of voters is considered as violation of  citizens’ democratic rights.
2. Ensuring Fairness and Non-Discrimination
   • The basis of deletion must be based on the Legal frounds.
   • The question arises on the principle of equal representation if there is any political biasedness appears in deletion of voter’s name. 
3. Transparency and Accountability
   • Ethical governance demands transparent processes for timely voter roll updates.
   • Electoral authorities must provide  communication, grievance redressal, and justification for every deletion happens in the constituency.
4. Maintaining Trust in Democratic Institutions
   • Election Commission of India would come in question if any kind of manipulation be seen by the authority .
   • Upholding ethics can uplift  legitimacy and credibility of elections.
5. State Duty vs Citizen Responsibility
   • It is a moral duty of the state to protect voters’ rights and prevent disenfranchisement.
   • It is the ethical responsibility of the Citizens  to verify their electoral details and reach out to the authority  if any discrepancy is found.