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A grey birthday for the Election Commission of India
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Context
The 75th anniversary of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is marked on January 25, celebrated as National Voters Day. However, recent issues with voter registration in the Maharashtra State elections have raised concerns about the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls. The rapid increase in voter registrations has prompted discussions on how to improve the credibility of voter data in the country.
Issues with Electoral Rolls in Maharashtra
- Discrepancy in Voter Numbers: In the 2024 Maharashtra State elections, the ECI enrolled 9.7 crore voters, exceeding the state's total estimated adult population of 9.54 crore, raising doubts about the authenticity of the voter list.
- Rapid Enrollment of New Voters: A significant surge of 48 lakh new voters were registered in just six months between the Lok Sabha and State elections, a sharp increase compared to previous years, leading to concerns about the validity of these enrollments.
- Uneven Voting Patterns: The sudden addition of new voters seems to coincide with a notable shift in voting patterns. This raises questions about the transparency and accuracy of voter enrollment and its possible impact on election outcomes.
Transparency and Electoral Integrity
- Lack of Data Transparency: The ECI has not publicly released detailed data about the newly registered voters, leaving unanswered questions regarding their legitimacy and how they were verified.
- Need for Clear Verification Mechanisms: To ensure the integrity of the electoral rolls, there is a need for more robust verification processes during voter registration. This would help eliminate potential errors and fraudulent registrations.
- Role of Technology in Ensuring Accuracy: The integration of technologies like Aadhaar for biometric verification of voters could help improve the accuracy of electoral rolls and minimize the chances of discrepancies or duplication.
Practice Question
Q. Discuss the concerns regarding the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls in India. What measures can be implemented to ensure the credibility of voter registration data?
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