The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a new e-sign feature on its ECINet portal and mobile app to strengthen the verification process for voter registration, deletion, and correction requests. This new system requires applicants to authenticate their identity using an Aadhaar-linked mobile number, aiming to prevent fraudulent manipulations of voter data.
Under the updated process, applicants submitting Form 6 (new registration), Form 7 (voter deletion or objection), and Form 8 (corrections) must verify their Aadhaar number through an OTP sent to their registered Aadhaar-linked phone. This additional step helps ensure that only legitimate requests are processed, protecting voters against unauthorized changes.
The move comes in the wake of allegations during Karnataka’s 2023 Assembly elections, where thousands of voter deletion requests were reportedly filed without the consent of the affected voters. Reports indicated misuse of online forms, with OTPs being sent to phone numbers unlinked to the original voters, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral rolls.
To address these issues, the ECI’s new e-sign system redirects users to a secure external portal managed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) for Aadhaar-based authentication. Only after successful verification are applications submitted back to the ECINet portal.
ECINet itself is a consolidated platform that combines around 40 prior election-related portals and services into a single, streamlined interface, making it easier for voters and officials to handle electoral processes digitally.
The introduction of the e-sign verification is seen as a critical step toward safeguarding voter data, enhancing transparency, and bolstering confidence in India’s electoral system.
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