Poll body's 21-point push for reforms: Meet with parties, fewer voters at booths
In a bid to strengthen electoral integrity, enhance voter convenience, and boost institutional efficiency, the Election Commission has rolled out 21 key initiatives within the first 100 days of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar taking office.Among the most significant steps is the Commission's renewed engagement with political parties, a move seen as crucial amid frequent criticism from losing parties, which often accuse the poll body of inaction against alleged malpractices by their rivals.advertisementThese initiatives mark a proactive and comprehensive push for electoral reform in the lead-up to the upcoming elections.IMPROVING VOTER ACCESSIBILITY & BOOTH MANAGEMENT
Polling Station Capacity Reduced: The maximum number of electors per polling station has been reduced from 1,500 to 1,200 to ease crowding.More Booths in Urban Clusters: Additional booths will be set up in gated communities and high-rise buildings.Travel Distance Minimised: The ECI aims to ensure that no voter has to travel more than 2 km to cast their vote.Redesigned Voter Slips: Voter information slips have been made more user-friendly, with a clearer display of serial and part numbers.Mobile Deposit Facilities: Mobile phone deposit facilities have been introduced at polling station entrances for voter convenience.Relaxed Canvassing Rules: Candidate booths are now allowed within 100 meters of polling stations, reduced from the earlier limit of 200 meters.ECINET: ONE-STOP DASHBOARD FOR STAKEHOLDERSadvertisementTo simplify access to election-related services, the commission has introduced ECINET, an integrated dashboard combining over 40 existing apps and websites. This single-window platform will roll out gradually, with full implementation expected before the Bihar Assembly elections.CLEANER ELECTORAL ROLLS VIA TECH INTEGRATIONAutomatic Removal of Deceased Voters: ECI now receives real-time death registration data from the Registrar General of India, ensuring timely deletion after field verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs).First Special Summary Revision Before Bye-Election: This marks a new practice under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.STRENGTHENED POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT4,719 All-Party Meetings: These were conducted at CEO, DEO, and ERO levels with over 28,000 party representatives participating.CAPACITY BUILDING & TRAINING INITIATIVESTraining for BLOs & Supervisors: Over 3,500 officers have been trained at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).1 Lakh+ BLO Supervisors to be Trained: This large-scale training will expand BLO capacity across India.Upcoming Batches: Nearly 6,000 more BLOs/Supervisors to be trained by mid-July, with a focus on states like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, Kerala, and Assam which would be going for assembly polls in the near future.PARTIES MEET POLL BODY TO DISCUSS KEY ELECTORAL REFORMSIn a significant move ahead of the upcoming elections, representatives from several national and regional political parties met the Election Commission of India (ECI) at its New Delhi headquarters to deliberate on critical electoral reforms. The consultation aimed to foster dialogue and build consensus on measures to strengthen the country's democratic framework.advertisementThe meeting witnessed active participation from leaders of major political parties, including the BJP, AAP, Trinamool Congess, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and several others. The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections and welcomed inputs from all stakeholders.Key issues discussed included curbing the influence of money in elections, enhancing the accuracy of electoral rolls, preventing the misuse of social media during campaigns, and tackling the issue of candidates with criminal backgrounds. A major point of focus was the possible implementation of remote voting technology for domestic migrant workers, a move aimed at promoting inclusive electoral participation.Political parties raised concerns over transparency in election funding, called for stricter enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, and suggested robust mechanisms to regulate online campaigning. While opinions varied, most participants welcomed the Commission's efforts to initiate direct consultations.The poll body assured the political parties that their suggestions would be thoroughly examined and incorporated, where feasible, into the formulation of future electoral policies. A detailed roadmap for reform, based on these consultations, is expected to be released in the coming months.Must Watch
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