Context: Recently, there have been allegations of manipulation of electoral rolls during the recently concluded assembly elections in Delhi. Issues were raised with respect to duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers in Bengal. This necessitates reforms in the electoral process.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Reforms needed in Election Commission and Electoral system
Issues faced by the Electoral System
- Criminalisation of Politics: As per Association of Democratic Reforms, criminalisation of politics has reached its peak with 251 (46%) of the 543 elected MPs in 2024, having criminal cases against them. Of them 170 (31%) face serious criminal charges including rape, murder, attempt to murder and kidnapping.
- Election Expenditure Violations: Candidates regularly breach the expenditure limit. There is no limit on political party spending. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election poll expenditure was estimated at ₹1,00,000 crore (Centre for Media Studies), leading to corruption and an unfair playing field.
- Issues in Campaign process: Star Campaigners’ of most parties have been guilty of using inappropriate and abusive words against leaders of other political parties, appealing to caste/communal feelings of electors, and making unsubstantiated allegations.
- Duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) Numbers: Cases of identical EPIC numbers found across different states (West Bengal, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab).
Also Read: Can two electors have identical EPIC numbers?
Reforms Demanded by the Election Commission (EC):
- Ceiling on Political Parties’ Expenditure: Similar to the expenditure limit imposed on individual candidates to ensure fair competition and prevent undue influence through excessive spending.
- State Funding of Political Parties (Not Elections): Independent audits of political parties and state funding of political parties to enhance transparency and reduce dependency on private donations.
- Ban on Private donations: Complete prohibition of private funding to curb undue corporate or individual influence. Focus on state-controlled mechanisms to regulate financial inputs.
- Establishment of a National Election Fund: Creation of an independent fund for tax-free donations and allocation of funds based on parties' electoral performance to ensure fairness.
- Reforms in 2023 Amendment Act: The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment and Service Condition and Terms of Office Act 2023 has missed out on protecting the two Election Commissioners from removal from office, so that they do not feel as if they are on probation and their elevation to CEC would be dependent on the government’s pleasure, this needs to be looked into in order to maintain the sanctity of the Commission
Other suggestions
- Elimination of Fake Voters and Duplicate EPIC Cards: Link Aadhaar with EPIC cards after stakeholder discussions and addressing the concerns over privacy.
- EVM and VVPAT Matching Process:
- Sample size for VVPAT verification should be decided scientifically at the state/regional level. If a discrepancy is found in even one instance, a full VVPAT count for that region should be mandated.
- The Supreme Court has directed that the burnt memory of microcontrollers of 5% of EVMs in every assembly segment can be checked and verified by a team of engineers of the EVM manufacturers in case of any suspicion of tampering.
- Transparency on Criminal Cases Against Candidates: As per Supreme Court directive, Candidates and political parties must publish criminal records thrice before elections in newspapers and electronic media. Strict enforcement will help voters make informed decisions.
Comprehensive reforms in voting, counting, campaign financing, and candidate transparency are necessary to maintain the integrity of electoral institutions and safeguard India’s electoral democracy.