The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out a new e-sign feature on its ECINET portal and app from September 2024. This technical upgrade is designed to curb allegations of fraudulent voter deletions and additions.

Background

  • ECINET: A one-stop platform integrating over 40 web and mobile applications of the ECI. 
    • First operational during the June 2024 bye-elections in Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal.
  • Old system: Applicants submitting Forms 6 (registration), 7 (deletion/objection), and 8 (correction) could connect any mobile number with their EPIC number, with no real verification. This created vulnerabilities.
  • Case in point: Karnataka’s Aland Assembly constituency (2023) witnessed an attempt to delete nearly 6,000 voters via forged online submissions.

New e-Sign Mechanism

  • After filling the form, applicants are redirected to a portal run by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).
  • Users must enter their Aadhaar number → generate OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked mobile → provide consent → redirect back to ECINET to complete submission.
  • Ensures only genuine applicants (with Aadhaar-linked verification) can request changes in electoral rolls.

Significance

  • Reduces misuse of Form 7 for voter deletions.
  • Enhances trust and transparency in electoral rolls.
  • Part of EC’s broader digital governance push — including faster voter turnout reporting and publishing of index cards within 72 hours of results.

Limitations

  • Requires applicants’ Aadhaar-mobile linkage — possible exclusion risk if not updated.
  • Consent-based use of Aadhaar must be balanced with privacy safeguards.

MCQ

Q. With reference to the Election Commission of India’s new e-sign feature, consider the following statements:

  1. The feature has been integrated into the ECINET platform, which combines over 40 ECI mobile and web applications.
  2. Applicants seeking new voter registration, deletion, or correction must authenticate their identity using Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers.
  3. The OTP verification process is hosted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
  4. The feature allows direct online deletion of voter names without any hearing.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
 (b) 2 and 4 only
 (c) 1 and 3 only
 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a)

The Hindu

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