• Source:JND
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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made it mandatory to use an Aadhaar-linked mobile number for all online voter registration services, including adding, deleting, or modifying voter details. The decision was taken about a month ago, and the Election Commission’s IT Department has since been working on this, and the system has been implemented now, NDTV quoted a poll body official as saying.

Under this, the EC has introduced an ‘e-sign’ feature on its ECINet portal and app, requiring voter registration, deletion, and correction applicants to verify their identity via Aadhaar-linked phone numbers, The Indian Express reported.

This move, which aims to streamline the verification process and enhance the security of online electoral services, comes shortly after the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress Leader, Rahul Gandhi, alleged mass-scale voter deletion in Karnataka. He accused the EC of failing to provide essential details sought by the CID.

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Rahul Gandhi’s Allegation Against EC

Speaking at his second press conference on “vote-chori”, Gandhi said, “This is not random. It is systematic. A 'third force' is carrying out targeted voter deletions.” He further said that the “H-bomb” of revelations is coming.

Gandhi claimed that 6,018 voters were removed from the Aland Assembly Constituency and accused the Election Commission of engaging in “vote-theft.”

“Gyanesh ji, we caught the theft and only then did you remember to put a lock. Now we'll catch the thieves too. So, tell us, when are you going to give the evidence to CID?” Gandhi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Election Commission Issues Clarification

Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer, V. Anbukkumar, refuted the allegation, saying that in December 2022, the Electoral Roll Officer (ERO) of Aland received 6,018 Form 7 applications for voter deletion through online platforms. A thorough verification process was initiated, including document checks and field visits.

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Following the verification process, only 24 applications were found to be valid, and the remaining 5,994 were found to be invalid and were rejected, indicating that no mass deletion has taken place.

The CEO also stated that a First Information Report (FIR No. 26/2023, dated 21.02.2023) was filed at the Aland Police station to investigate the false applications for voter deletion.