CEC calls India's electoral process among world's most transparent

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has described India's electoral process as one of the most transparent in the world, pointing to the continuous verification carried out by political parties, candidates and their agents at every stage — from the preparation of electoral rolls to the counting of votes.

He was speaking at an 'Interaction with Booth Level Officers' programme held at Atal Kalam Hall of Gujarat University on Friday.

According to an official release, Mr. Kumar said electoral rolls are verified on an ongoing basis with the participation of political parties and their Booth Level Agents. Booth Level Officers, he noted, are tasked with identifying cases classified as Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate and Foreigner (ASDDF), while also ensuring that eligible voters stay on the rolls.

Every eligible citizen who has turned 18 should find a place on the electoral roll, he said.

On the polling process, the CEC explained that electronic voting machines and VVPATs are checked through a mock poll in the presence of candidates' polling agents before voting begins. Once polling ends, procedures relating to EVM results are completed and documents signed in the presence of those agents. During counting, votes recorded in the EVMs are matched against those entered in Form 17C before the counting agents of candidates.

Mr. Kumar said the Commission conducts the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls from time to time to preserve their purity and accuracy. Booth Level Officers visit voters' homes and interact with them directly to verify details, with accuracy further sought through document submission, mapping and hearings.

He urged BLOs to stay continuously engaged in keeping the rolls accurate, checking their areas whenever possible and completing the procedures needed to add the names of young people who have turned 18, calling it one of the greatest services to the country's democracy.

The CEC also took part in the fifth regional conference on 'Electoral Literacy Clubs and ECINET' in Ahmedabad, which focused on strengthening electoral literacy and democratic awareness among young citizens. He asked young people and others present to download the ECINET app and help family members and those around them register new names on the electoral roll. Electoral Literacy Clubs in schools and colleges, the release said, would further reinforce democratic values among young minds.

At the programme, Mr. Kumar and other dignitaries interacted with more than 1,000 ELC members, school and college nodal officers, campus ambassadors, BLOs and other stakeholders.

He also noted that India currently chairs the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), a grouping of 35 major democracies, which he said reflects global recognition of the country's free and fair electoral system. Citizens, he added, should fulfil their duty by voting on polling day.