India’s electoral process faces transparency and trust issues

Source: The post India’s electoral process faces transparency and trust issues has been created, based on the article “Election Commission needs to address questions – not dismiss them” published in “Indian Express” on 13th March 2025. India’s electoral process faces transparency and trust issues.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Polity- powers, functions and responsibilities of

various Constitutional Bodies.

Context: The article discusses concerns about India’s electoral process. It highlights issues with duplicate voter IDs, unexplained voter roll changes, delays in voter turnout data, and doubts about EVMs. It urges the Election Commission to improve transparency, technology, and accountability to restore trust.

For detailed information on Election Commission is Losing Its Neutrality in India read this article here

Why is the issue of duplicate voter IDs a problem?

The Election Commission (EC) has acknowledged that some voters have the same EPIC number. This issue has existed for a long time but is now being addressed. Political parties, including the TMC, have raised concerns. The EC plans to fix this problem within three months using advanced technology.

Why is the accuracy of electoral rolls questioned?

1. Unusual Additions and Deletions: In Maharashtra, voter numbers increased significantly between May 2024 (general elections) and November 2024 (assembly elections). Delhi also saw unexplained changes.
2. Historical Standards: Sukumar Sen delayed India’s first election until voter rolls were verified. Today, despite a three-member EC, errors persist.
3. Suggested Reform: The EC should publish polling stations with over 2-3% voter list changes for transparency.

Why is Form 17C controversial?

1. Records Vote Count: Form 17C records the number of votes polled at a booth. Polling agents of candidates receive attested copies.
2. Delayed Data Disclosure: The Election Commission (EC) does not upload Form 17C data immediately. This causes suspicion.
3. Example from 2024 Elections: The EC faced criticism for not revealing voter turnout data quickly. This led to trust issues.
4. Proposed Solution: Upload polling station-wise vote counts online. Transparency can prevent doubts.

Why do people doubt EVMs?

1. Supreme Court Clearance: Despite rulings that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are reliable, public skepticism persists.
2. Manipulation Concerns: People question whether EVMs can be tampered with, differentiating between actual manipulation and potential vulnerabilities.
3. Transparency Issues: The Election Commission (EC) has been criticized for not being open about EVM processes, including the source code and administrative procedures.
4. Public Confidence: Counting 100% of VVPAT slips in random constituencies can help verify accuracy.

Conclusion

The EC should proactively fix flaws in electoral rolls, Form 17C transparency, and EVM credibility. Instead of just reacting to criticism, it should challenge its own systems. Strengthening accountability will help democracy function better.

Question for practice:

Examine the factors that have raised concerns about the accuracy and transparency of India’s electoral process.