4.3.15

EPIC-Aadhaar link up begins

Election commission on Tuesday started to link Aadhaar data with the electoral roll database as part of an authentication system to prevent electoral malpractices. The commission believes the move will check impersonation and rigging during the elections. The commission plans to set up a system in which the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be locked automatically if a voter's fingerprint does not match with that stored with the Aadhaar card data.
The process started in Bengal from Tuesday as part of a nation-wide drive for linking Aadhaar cards with elector's photo identity card (EP IC) and electoral roll data.
As fingerprints have already been captured for creating the Aadhaar database, EC officials feel it would help them stop impersonation.
The fingerprint data of Aadhaar card remains stored in the server, through which the EVMs will check if there a voter is bona fide or a bogus one who had entered the booth through manipulation or by use of force.
The EC had earlier wanted to come up with a biometric measure to stop rigging during elections.
Booth-level officers are expected to come down to the houses of city residents to collect their Aadhaar card number and link it with their electoral data.
During the drive, the voters will also be made aware that having more than one EPIC is an offence and the voters would be given an opportunity to disclose if they have more than one card, said an official.

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