Electronic distraction

Context: While there are numerous issues related to the integrity of elections
that the Election Commission of India (ECI) needs to come clean on, the risk of
electronic tampering with EVMs is not among them. To assume that EVMs are so
elaborately and precisely manipulated that the BJP wins in some States and
loses in some others in a detailed conspiracy, defies logic. By repeatedly
raising the spectre of EVM manipulation, the real and serious questions of
election integrity are being overlooked. Large-scale additions and deletions of
voter names are now a pattern, and the ECI seems to be brazening it out.

Key points

·       Overview: In recent
years, there has been growing discussion and analysis surrounding the integrity
and dependability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used during elections in
India. SC emphasized that EVMs are often questioned only in the wake of
electoral losses, reaffirming confidence in their mechanism and the safeguards
in place.

·       Necessity
of electoral reforms: Electoral reforms refer to the changes or
improvements made to the electoral process to ensure the integrity and
transparency of the electoral system. These reforms are necessary to maintain
the credibility of the electoral process and to ensure that every vote counts.

Ø  Ensuring free
and fair elections (Article 324) - Electoral reforms aim to address the issues
of electoral malpractices and ensure that elections are conducted in a free and
fair manner.

Ø  Enhancing voter participation
-
Electoral reforms aim to increase voter turnout and to address the issue of
voter apathy, difficulty in accessing polling booths, etc.

Ø  Reducing the
influence of money and muscle power - Electoral reforms help to
reduce the influence of money and muscle power by regulating campaign finance
and ensuring the safety of voters.

Ø  Encouraging
transparency and accountability - Electoral reforms initiate the measures such
as mandatory disclosure of criminal records by candidates and the use of
technology to monitor the electoral process.

Ø  Addressing
electoral inequalities - Electoral reforms try to bring down the
inequalities such as the under-representation of women and marginalized
communities.

·       Recommendations
by Election Commission of India (ECI): The Election Commission of
India (ECI) has made several recommendations for electoral reforms over the
years to improve the electoral process and ensure free and fair elections. Some
of the major recommendations are-

Ø  The Commission
is of the view that the law should be amended to provide that a person cannot
contest from more than one constituency at a time.

Ø  Election
commission endorsed the call for a lifetime ban in the apex court. It had
argued that such a move would “champion the cause of decriminalization of
politics”.

Ø  The Commission
proposes that where any general election is due on the expiration of the term
of the House, advertisements of achievements of the governments, either Central
or State, in any manner, should be prohibited for a period of six months prior
to the date of expiry of the term of the House.

Ø  The Election
Commission proposes an amendment to provide the same protection and safeguard
in the matter of removability of Election Commissioners from office as is
available to the Chief Election Commissioner.

Ø  The decisions
relating to anti-defection matters should be rendered by the President or the
Governor with the recommendation of the Election Commission.

Ø  There should be
the use of common electoral rolls at elections conducted by the Election
Commission and the State Election Commissions.

Ø  Election
Commission proposes that making false declarations concerning elections be an
offense.