New Delhi: After consultation with the Ministry of Law, election Commissionhave amended Registration of Electoral Rules1960 and the Election Conduct Rules, 1961, to give effect to electoral reforms implemented late last year, including linking of voter IDs. Base and introducing four qualifying dates in a year to register as a first-time voter. The amended rules, which also create a gender-neutral provision that only allows the wife of a male service voter to register as a voter in the same constituency, will be effective from August 1, 2022.
The gazette document, issued on Friday notifying the Electoral Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2022 and the Conduct of Elections (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022, to give effect to the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, passed in December 2021, was dated April 1, 2023 as Every person whose name appears in the electoral roll can furnish his Aadhaar number in accordance with section 23(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 as amended last year. The notification presents various revised forms for voter registration, change in voter details and EPIC-Aadhaar connection, etc.
Form 6B, which allows voter ID authentication with Aadhaar number, offers voters the option of either furnishing their Aadhaar number, or alternatively, stating that they cannot submit it because they have Aadhaar number is not there. In the latter case, they will have the option to authenticate their voter ID card by presenting a copy of any one of the 11 optional documents, i.e. MGNREGA job card, bank passbook with photo, driving license, pan card, Indian passport, health insurance smart card, pension document, service identity card issued by the government, official identity card issued to MPs, MLAs and MLCs, and unique identification ID issued by ministry of social justice,
A senior Election Commission official reiterated that the submission of Aadhaar for voter authentication would be purely voluntary – as per Section 23(5) of the RP Act 1951, read with Rule 26B of the Electoral Registration Rules, 1960. “The Election Commission will issue detailed guidelines for this purpose,” shared the activist. Sources said that even filling of Aadhaar fields in electronic forms will not be mandatory for new voter registration, change of address etc.
Incidentally, there is no declaration at the end of Form 6B, taking the respondents out of the purview of section 31 of the RP Act which makes a false statement in the declaration part of a form an offense punishable with imprisonment of up to one year or. with fine or both.
The gazette document, issued on Friday notifying the Electoral Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2022 and the Conduct of Elections (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022, to give effect to the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, passed in December 2021, was dated April 1, 2023 as Every person whose name appears in the electoral roll can furnish his Aadhaar number in accordance with section 23(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 as amended last year. The notification presents various revised forms for voter registration, change in voter details and EPIC-Aadhaar connection, etc.
Form 6B, which allows voter ID authentication with Aadhaar number, offers voters the option of either furnishing their Aadhaar number, or alternatively, stating that they cannot submit it because they have Aadhaar number is not there. In the latter case, they will have the option to authenticate their voter ID card by presenting a copy of any one of the 11 optional documents, i.e. MGNREGA job card, bank passbook with photo, driving license, pan card, Indian passport, health insurance smart card, pension document, service identity card issued by the government, official identity card issued to MPs, MLAs and MLCs, and unique identification ID issued by ministry of social justice,
A senior Election Commission official reiterated that the submission of Aadhaar for voter authentication would be purely voluntary – as per Section 23(5) of the RP Act 1951, read with Rule 26B of the Electoral Registration Rules, 1960. “The Election Commission will issue detailed guidelines for this purpose,” shared the activist. Sources said that even filling of Aadhaar fields in electronic forms will not be mandatory for new voter registration, change of address etc.
Incidentally, there is no declaration at the end of Form 6B, taking the respondents out of the purview of section 31 of the RP Act which makes a false statement in the declaration part of a form an offense punishable with imprisonment of up to one year or. with fine or both.