Last Update:20 November 2024 12:04 IST

To prevent fraud, only election or presiding officials can verify voter identity by checking ID cards during voting, as required by Electoral Commission rules.

The Samajwadi Party has formally petitioned the Election Commission regarding the treatment of Muslim women during the elections. (Representative/PTI File)

Voting is taking place in nine assembly seats in the November 20 by-election in Uttar Pradesh. However, before the vote, a debate broke out over burqas, headscarves, veils and ghunghats. Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party and the BJP clashed over this issue.

While the Samajwadi Party demanded that Muslim women should not be required to remove their burqas for checks, Giriraj Singh of the BJP stated that every voter should be identified. The matter is now before the Election Commission.

Voting has been going on since 7 am in nine assembly constituencies across the state.

The Samajwadi Party has formally petitioned the Election Commission regarding the treatment of Muslim women during the elections. The party’s letter emphasized that it is unacceptable for Muslim women to remove their burqas for identity verification. They argued that if a woman chooses to vote while wearing a burqa, police personnel should not have the authority to remove the burqa for inspection. Additionally, the Samajwadi Party has argued that the police should not have the power to inspect voter ID cards during the voting process.

This has raised many important questions, such as who has the authority to verify voter IDs, whether the police can legally remove a woman’s burqa for this purpose, and what the Electoral Commission’s specific regulations are on this issue.

What does the Election Commission rule say?

According to the Election Commission rule, every voter has to be verified before voting. To prevent fraudulent voting, each voter is allowed to vote only after their identity is verified. The election officer appointed by the Election Commission examines the voter’s identity card and ensures his identity. The Election Commission rule states that only the election official or presiding officer can check the voter’s ID card. However, in suspicious cases, police or security guards may also check the voter’s identity card.

Can poll workers check voter ID?

Polling officials representing different political parties working in the voting booth do not have the authority to check the identity cards of voters. However, in case of any doubt, he/she can ask questions or request the election officer to verify the voter ID card. The primary role of voting agents is to deter fraudulent voting practices and raise concerns.

Similarly, police or security personnel are prohibited from checking voter ID cards. Their powers are limited to carrying out security checks only if suspicions arise.

Statement from the Election Commission

The Election Commission has issued clear guidelines to clear any uncertainty on the issue. UP Election Commission officials have made it clear that the responsibility of police and security personnel is limited to ensuring security and peace only. They are not allowed to check any voter’s ID card.

Restrictions on Police Verification

Police officers are strictly prohibited from checking voter cards. He also has no authority to require a woman to remove her burqa so that her face can be matched with a voter ID card. The Election Commission guidelines clearly state that only the polling officer has the authority to check the identity card of any voter. This authority belongs only to the voting staff and the presiding officer.

Can a female voter check by taking off her burqa?

The question of whether a Muslim woman can be checked by removing her burqa during voter verification is a sensitive issue. If fraud is prevented or suspected, the ballot box officer may request that the woman’s face be revealed for identification.

However, this process must be carried out by a female polling officer, with utmost respect for religious sensitivity and privacy. It is very important to emphasize that under no circumstances should police or security guards attempt to control a woman’s face by removing her burqa.

Previous discussions about burqa

A similar situation arose during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when Hyderabad BJP candidate Madhavi Lata sparked outrage by asking women voters to remove their burqas for identity verification at a polling booth. The incident led to an FIR being filed and widespread condemnation.

Haryana elections also witnessed debates about burqa. Now Uttar Pradesh is also facing a similar situation.

In response to a letter from Akhilesh Yadav, the Election Commission assured the public that no police officer has the authority to ask a woman to remove her burqa for facial verification.

By-elections for nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh began on Wednesday morning with voters forming long queues at polling stations. The constituencies holding by-elections are Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Karhal (Mainpuri), Mirapur (Muzaffarnagar), Ghaziabad, Majhawan (Mirzapur), Sheeshmau (Kanpur city), Khair (Aligarh), Phulpur (Prayagraj) and Kundarki (Moradabad) . ). By-election results will be announced on November 23.

Location :

Uttar Pradesh, India