Elections 2023: Is it mandatory to link Voter ID card & Aadhaar? PIB Fact Check clarifies

As several crucial assembly elections will take place in 2023, it is important for electors to know developments related to Voter ID- a document issued by Election Commission of India (ECI) to voters for casting ir ballot. 

Recently, a social media post claimed that according to Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, it is mandatory to link Voter ID and Ahaar.

However, Press Information Bureau's Fact Check arm called it fake and said that linking an Ahaar card with a voter ID card is voluntary. 

According to Election Commission, " purpose of collection of Ahaar from existing electors is to establish identity of electors and auntication of entries in electoral roll and to identify registration of name of same person is more than one constituency or more than once in state constituency...It is me clear that submission of Ahaar number is voluntary on part of electors."

Ahe of 2024 general elections, assembly elections will take place in nine states- Rajasthan, Mhya Presh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya- this year.

ECI has alrey announced schedule for assembly elections for Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya. Tripura will vote on February 16 while Nagaland and Meghalaya will vote on February 27. Polls in Karnataka could take place in April or early May. 

term of Mizoram concludes on December 17, while that for Mhya Presh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Rajasthan ends on different dates in January 2024. re is a possibility that assembly elections in se states can be held toger in December 2023.