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Yadav pushes Aadhaar-linked voting, biometric checks for electoral reform

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has outlined three key electoral reforms to curb fraudulent voting, including linking Aadhaar cards to the polling process and implementing biometric authentication systems.

LSN India · 9 November 2026

Yadav pushes Aadhaar-linked voting, biometric checks for electoral reform

Yadav has called for sweeping changes to India's electoral procedures to prevent bogus voting and strengthen the integrity of elections. His proposed measures centre on tightening voter verification mechanisms through technological and administrative reforms.

The senior opposition leader has advocated for integrating Aadhaar cards into the voting system as a primary mechanism to authenticate voters and prevent duplicate or fraudulent votes. He also seeks to replace existing paper or plastic voter identification cards with more durable metal variants, arguing they would reduce tampering and improve longevity.

Biometric authentication forms the third pillar of Yadav's electoral reform agenda. He has proposed implementing fingerprint or iris recognition systems at polling booths to add an additional layer of voter verification, making it more difficult for unauthorised individuals to cast votes on behalf of legitimate electors.

These recommendations reflect broader concerns within India's political establishment about electoral malpractices, though the feasibility and implementation of such large-scale technological integration in the country's polling infrastructure remains a subject of considerable debate among electoral authorities and political stakeholders.