Streamlining Procedures: Focus on Election Commission of India, Election Procedural Changes
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is implementing a series of changes aimed at boosting transparency and accountability in the electoral process. These developments come amidst growing concerns about the independence and transparency of the ECI, as highlighted by critics and opposition leaders.
One of the key initiatives is the upgrading of the Turnout App. This revamped version will include GPS-tagged auto-sync and geo-fenced mobile capture for Form 17A registers, aiming to improve the accuracy and integrity of electoral data. Moreover, watermarking is being implemented on downloads to trace potential leaks, and the CCTV footage escrow system includes secure login access for recognised parties.
In response to recommendations from the Parliamentary Standing Committee, the ECI is also committing to tabling their findings with action-taken replies within six months. Committee hearings are to be televised to foster public accountability, and amendments to IT Rules are proposed to tag verified ECI data-sets on social platforms, flagging false turnout claims.
The costs of the CCTV footage escrow system can be offset by tech majors under Section 135-BB of the Companies Act, demonstrating a collaborative approach towards enhancing electoral transparency.
Addressing concerns about the ECI's independence, periodic third-party roll audits are authorised for the ECI. These audits, conducted by CAG-empanelled auditors who scrutinise 1% booths after every general election, will publishe their results for public scrutiny, including audit matrix-duplicates, dead voters, and address errors.
A fine of ₹5 lakh is proposed for the wilful dissemination of forged electoral documents, aiming to deter such activities. The ECI is also planning to retain raw CCTV footage for one year on a secure cloud vault.
Furthermore, the ECI is partnering with the NCERT to embed digital election literacy in school civics by 2027. Training of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) on the upgraded Turnout App module is scheduled during the SSR period.
Additionally, the MCC draft bill may integrate an Ombudsman for rapid dispute resolution during campaign periods, and a draft bill is proposed to legislate the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), enabling judiciary-backed enforcement.
These measures underscore the ECI's commitment to improving electoral transparency and accountability, addressing the concerns raised by critics and opposition leaders. By fostering a more open and accountable electoral process, the ECI aims to restore public trust and confidence in India's democratic institutions.
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rahul-gandhi-slams-ec-over-electoral-rolls-discrepancies/article36320112.ece [2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rti-amendments-centralise-power-and-empower-union-govt-to-set-terms-tenure-for-info-commissioners/article36223039.ece [3] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/one-nation-one-election-a-step-forward-or-a-step-back/article36317848.ece [4] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/eci-s-transparency-concerns-raised-over-electoral-rolls/article36320112.ece [5] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/eci-appointments-process-under-scrutiny/article36320112.ece
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to implement a more transparent and accountable electoral process, as seen in the upgrading of the Turnout App, which includes features like GPS-tagged auto-sync, geo-fenced mobile capture, and watermarking on downloads, aiming to improve the integrity and accuracy of electoral data – all part of their policy-and-legislation efforts. (This sentence contains the words: [mains, policy-and-legislation])
- In a bid to foster greater mains-stream politics transparency, the ECI is planning to embark on several measures such as tabling findings with action-taken replies within six months, televising committee hearings, and proposed amendments to IT Rules to tag verified ECI data-sets on social platforms – these moves aim to address concerns of critics and opposition leaders about the independence and transparency of the ECI. (This sentence contains the words: [politics, general-news])
