In an endeavor to revolutionize India’s electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has recently unveiled 28 key reforms over the past six months. These initiatives focus on boosting transparency, incorporating technology, and enhancing voter convenience, aiming to fortify the foundation of Indian democracy.
Six Pillars of Reform
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Electoral System Cleanup
- Technology Integration
- Electoral Roll Purification
- Ease of Voting
- Capacity Building
Key Highlights of the Reforms
1. Stakeholder Engagement
- Over 4,700 all-party meetings held nationwide.
- Engagement of more than 28,000 party representatives.
- Conduction of 20 high-level meetings with national/state party leadership for feedback and consensus building.
2. Electoral System Cleanup
- Delisting of inactive political parties to ensure official roll accuracy.
- Introduction of photo identity cards for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for transparency.
- Enhanced EVM verification protocols for security and trust.
3. Technology Integration
- Launch of ECINET, a unified digital platform for voter and election-related applications.
- 100% webcasting from polling stations for real-time monitoring.
- Real-time voter turnout updates accessible to the public.
- Compulsory VVPAT slip count in case of data mismatch for auditability.
4. Purification of Electoral Rolls
- Special revisions in Bihar and four other states ahead of by-elections.
- Integration of voter rolls with death registration databases for timely deletion of deceased voters.
- Removal of duplicate EPIC numbers to prevent fraud.
5. Ease of Voting
- Mobile phone deposit counters for security and convenience at polling booths.
- Reduction in voter cap per polling station for improved access.
- Improved voter information slips.
- Candidate booths allowed beyond 100 meters from polling stations for identity slips.
6. Capacity Building
- Training of over 7,000 BLOs and supervisors at IIIDEM.
- Enhanced honorarium and refreshments for field and polling staff.
- Capacity building for Booth Level Agents (BLAs), media personnel, and police officers.
Strengthening Institutional Capacity
- Introduction of biometric attendance systems for election staff.
- Adoption of e-Office for faster documentation and decision-making.
- Relocation of administrative functions for streamlined operations.
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams
- ECI has introduced 28 reforms in six months to enhance the electoral system in India.
- The reforms focus on technology integration, voter convenience, and system cleanup.
- Capacity building and stakeholder engagement play crucial roles in fortifying the electoral process.
