RNS: Amidst protests the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021, which provides linking of electoral rolls with Aadhar number to check duplication was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
In addition, the measure proposes to allow 18-year-olds to register in a calendar year. It also provides for gender-neutrality when it comes to serving voters and the requisition of any premises for the purpose of conducting elections.
While moving the Bill for passage, Kiren Rijiju said unlike earlier, now a person could get an opportunity to enroll as a voter four times in a year on the 1st Day of January, April, July and October.
Talking to the media persons Rijiju said, the Bill will pave way for greater electoral reforms in the country.
Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM, Kalyan Banerjee of the TMC, NK Premchandran of the RSP, and Ritesh Pandey of the BSP were among those who had previously opposed the bill. They criticised the government for rushing through an important bill and not providing enough time to debate its meaning.