Why are electoral reforms necessary?
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: NIE
Context: The Election Commission (EC) has invited political parties to discuss strengthening the electoral process amid allegations of electoral roll manipulation, duplicate EPIC numbers, and concerns over EVM-VVPAT reliability.
• These issues highlight the urgent need for electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections.
About Electoral Reforms:
Legal Provisions for Electoral Reforms:
• Article 324 of the Constitution: Vests the superintendence, direction, and control of elections in the EC, ensuring its autonomy in conducting elections.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950: Governs the preparation of electoral rolls and voter registration.
• Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: Provides the framework for voter registration and EPIC issuance.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC): A set of guidelines to ensure ethical campaigning and fair play during elections.
• Supreme Court Directives: Include mandatory VVPAT use, disclosure of criminal antecedents by candidates, and verification of EVM microcontrollers in case of disputes.
Issues Calling for Electoral Reforms:
• EVM and VVPAT Concerns: Opposition parties demand 100% VVPAT-EVM matching, citing potential tampering.
Example: PILs filed in the Supreme Court seeking a return to paper ballots.
• Electoral Roll Manipulation: Allegations of fake voters in Maharashtra and Delhi elections.
Example: Trinamool Congress accused the EC of adding bogus voters to benefit the ruling party.
• Duplicate EPIC Numbers: Voters in states like West Bengal and Gujarat share identical EPIC numbers, raising doubts about voter list integrity.
• Criminalization of Politics: 46% of MPs elected in 2024 have criminal cases, with 31% facing serious charges like murder and rape (ADR report).
• Unregulated Campaign Expenditure: Political parties exceed expenditure limits, with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections estimated to cost ₹1,00,000 crore (CMS report).
Reforms Needed:
• EVM-VVPAT Enhancements: Increase the sample size for VVPAT-EVM matching scientifically.
Example: Use region-wise sampling and count all VVPAT slips in case of discrepancies.
• Aadhaar-EPIC Linking: Link Aadhaar with EPIC to eliminate duplicate voters, ensuring privacy safeguards.
Example: EC’s ERONET platform can be leveraged for centralized data management.
• Stricter MCC Enforcement: Empower the EC to revoke ‘Star Campaigner’ status for MCC violations.
Example: Action under Paragraph 16A of the Symbols Order against major parties for unethical campaigning.
• Expenditure Caps: Impose limits on political party expenditure and include party funding within candidate expenditure limits.
Example: Amend the Representation of the People Act to enforce this.
• Publicizing Criminal Records: Enforce Supreme Court directives to publicize criminal antecedents of candidates at least three times before elections.
Example: Use local newspapers and electronic media for wider reach.
Conclusion:
Electoral reforms are essential to address issues like EVM reliability, electoral roll manipulation, and criminalization of politics. By implementing scientific VVPAT sampling, linking Aadhaar with EPIC, and enforcing stricter campaign regulations, the EC can restore public trust in the electoral process. A collaborative effort between the EC, political parties, and civil society is crucial to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
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