Fri Jan 17 19:45:44 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Migrant Workers Exploit Voter ID loophole to Access Welfare Schemes in Two States

**New Delhi, January 18, 2025** – Thousands of migrant workers in Delhi are illegally using multiple voter ID cards to access welfare benefits in both their home states and Delhi, highlighting a loophole in the electoral system and raising concerns about fairness and the integrity of the electoral process.

The practice, revealed in interviews with several affected individuals, involves possessing two or more Electoral Photo Identity Cards (voter IDs), a violation punishable by up to a year in prison and/or a fine. Despite this, many migrants, like 48-year-old Subhash Sahu (name changed), have been doing so for decades, casting votes in both their home state and Delhi.

These workers cite economic hardship as their primary motivation. They argue that accessing welfare schemes in both locations is necessary to make ends meet. Rekha De (name changed), a 27-year-old migrant worker from West Bengal, explained that while her income in Delhi helps her survive, it doesn’t offer security. She uses her dual voter IDs to access schemes such as the Lakshmir Bhandar in West Bengal and hopes to benefit from Delhi’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana.

The 2023-24 Economic Survey estimates that Delhi houses nearly 2.21 lakh migrants. Most Delhi government welfare schemes require proof of residency, creating a strong incentive for migrants to maintain their Delhi voter ID. Similarly, many migrants utilize their home state voter ID to access benefits available there. Vijendra Kumar (name changed), a 23-year-old from Bihar, leverages this system to receive a monthly allowance from the Bihar government.

While possessing two Aadhaar cards is legally impossible without forgery, the prevalence of dual voter IDs is higher than anticipated, according to a senior Delhi Police officer. The Election Commission is actively working to combat fake voter documents, encouraging migrants to update their addresses using Form 8A. However, the continued use of multiple voter IDs underscores the need for stronger enforcement and potentially system reform to address the issue. The issue is further complicated by the fact that political parties sometimes provide incentives to migrants to vote, potentially exacerbating the problem.

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