Need for Electoral Transparency

Allegations of irregularities during the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections have brought electoral transparency under scrutiny. Key concerns include sharp increases in voter rolls, questionable polling trends post-5 p.m., and restricted access to polling-related CCTV footage. These developments underscore the need for urgent reforms in electoral processes and institutional practices.

Need for Electoral Transparency and Institutional Accountability in India’s Voting Process

• Concerns Regarding Voter Roll Inconsistencies
  • Abnormal Voter Increase: Over 39 lakh new voters were added within six months between the general and Assembly elections in Maharashtra, raising concerns about the robustness of electoral roll updates.
  • Historical Precedent: Similar surges were observed before the 2014 elections, suggesting a recurring pattern that warrants deeper institutional scrutiny and timely release of voter data.
  • Need for Verifiability: The Election Commission of India (ECI) should publish machine-readable electoral roll data to enable cross-verification by stakeholders and enhance trust in the system.
• Turnout Anomalies and Technical Clarifications
  • Post-5 PM Voting Claims: Allegations of unusually high turnout after 5 p.m. are not supported by final ECI data; such claims are based on provisional numbers that are subject to manual entry errors.
  • Limitations of Provisional Data: Turnout figures shared via the ECI’s app are manually inputted and can differ from final machine-verified Form 17C data, which should be considered the authoritative source.
  • Delays in Final Data Release: The lag in publishing authenticated booth-wise turnout data creates space for misinformation and speculation; real-time dissemination mechanisms need strengthening.
• Institutional Gaps and Recommendations
  • Restricted Access to CCTV Footage: Amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, have limited the ability of stakeholders to scrutinize polling activities, affecting transparency and grievance redressal.
  • Concerns Over Appointment Process: The procedure for appointing Election Commissioners remains contentious, with non-implementation of a 2023 Supreme Court recommendation involving the judiciary in the selection panel.
  • Call for Participatory Electoral Roll Management: Electoral roll revisions should involve active stakeholder engagement and third-party verification, shifting from reactive complaints to proactive oversight.

Practice Question:

Q. "Discuss the institutional challenges faced by the Election Commission of India in ensuring electoral transparency and integrity. Suggest reforms to enhance public trust in the electoral process."