India is set to implement a revolutionary electoral reform by connecting the voter roll with Aadhaar to end the age-old problem of double voting. This step is likely to greatly improve the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
The choice to associate the voter list with Aadhaar is a measure in response to the scandal of duplicate voting, which has remained a thorny issue in Indian elections. Utilizing the individual identification offered by Aadhaar, the electoral commission can guarantee that a voter gets registered only once and thus eradicate duplicate voting.
The merging of Aadhaar with the voter roll should be a sophisticated process, requiring the coordination of various government departments and the deployment of cutting-edge technology. But the payoffs of such an exercise are likely to be large, including better electoral integrity, lower voter impersonation, and more confidence of citizens in the democratic process.
The shift to connect Aadhaar with the voter roll will also have profound implications for the electoral landscape of the country. For example, it will help to provide an accurate and current voter roll that will curb electoral malpractices like voter impersonation and booth capturing.
In addition, Aadhaar-based verification could also help in the introduction of other electoral reforms, including e-voting and registration of electors. This could help enhance the participation of voters, especially among marginalized groups and youth, who tend to be less inclined towards participating in the electoral process.
In toto, the move to join the voter list with Aadhaar is a big step towards making India's electoral process more transparent and stronger. There could be problems at the implementation level, but there are huge potential gains and it will probably contribute positively to the democratic environment of the country.