Election Commission Of India Introduces Aadhaar-Linked E-Sign For Voter Deletion And Registration
Election Commission Of India Introduces Aadhaar-Linked E-Sign For Voter Deletion And Registration
New Delhi, September 24, 2025 – The Election Commission (EC) has rolled out a new electronic signature (e-sign) feature on its ECINet portal and mobile application, making it mandatory for applicants to verify their identity through an Aadhaar-linked phone number when seeking voter registration, deletion, or correction.
This development follows allegations by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that around 6,000 votes were fraudulently deleted in the Aland constituency, Karnataka, by unknown individuals using software and impersonating genuine voters. The EC, however, clarified that no voter’s name is removed from the electoral roll without issuing a notice and providing an opportunity to be heard.
Under the new system, applicants who wish to register as a voter (using Form 6) or request deletion or correction (using Form 7) will be redirected to an external e-sign portal hosted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) after entering their details. The portal sends a one-time password (OTP) to the Aadhaar-linked phone number for verification. Once the authentication is complete, the user is redirected back to the EC site to finalize their application.
Regarding the Aland case, the EC stated that while over 6,000 deletion applications were submitted, only 24 were validated and approved after verification. The remaining 5,994 applications were rejected. The poll body has also filed an FIR to investigate suspicious deletion attempts, reiterating that all actions comply with the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
The new e-sign feature is part of the EC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen security and prevent fraudulent manipulation of the electoral roll.
