The continued pursuit of the perfect election

Source: The post “The continued pursuit of the perfect election” has been created, based on “The continued pursuit of the perfect election” published in “The Hindu” on  31st March 2026.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Governance

Context: Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry are being conducted after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which removed duplicate, shifted, and deceased voters. The revision exercise has triggered political debate regarding electoral neutrality and transparency, highlighting concerns about electoral integrity. The developments have renewed attention on the role of the Election Commission of India in ensuring free and fair elections.

Scale and Strength of India’s Election Management

1. Elections across these five regions are being conducted through approximately 2.19 lakh polling stations, serving nearly 17.4 crore voters.
2. Around 25 lakh election officials, including 8.5 lakh security personnel and 49,000 micro-observers, have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of elections.
3. Election officials travel to remote and difficult terrains to ensure voting access even to a handful of electors, demonstrating India’s commitment to inclusive democracy.
4. Under Section 28A of the Representation of the People Act, all election officials function under the supervision and control of the Election Commission during elections to maintain neutrality.

Measures Taken by the Election Commission to Ensure Free and Fair Elections

1. Deployment of Observers and Security Forces

1. The Election Commission has deployed more than 1,100 central observers to monitor the electoral process across constituencies.
2. Security personnel have been stationed at sensitive locations to prevent violence, intimidation, and malpractice during polling.
3. The Election Commission has transferred several administrative and police officials to ensure neutrality and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.

2. Reduction in Multi-Phase Polling

1. The Election Commission has attempted to reduce the number of polling phases to improve election efficiency and reduce security risks.
2. For example, polling in West Bengal has been reduced from eight phases in 2021 to two phases in the current elections.
3. This reflects improvements in election management capacity and coordination of security forces.

The “Four-M” Challenge to Election Integrity

The Election Commission has identified four major threats that continue to affect free and fair elections in India.

1. Money Power

1. Electoral inducements in the form of cash, liquor, gifts, and welfare transfers continue to influence voter behaviour during elections.
2. Authorities seized more than ₹10,000 crore worth of inducements during the 2024 General Elections, indicating the magnitude of the problem.
3. Competitive populism and unrealistic campaign promises also weaken fiscal discipline and electoral ethics.

2. Muscle Power

1. Deployment of central security forces has reduced direct intimidation of voters in many areas.
2. However, politically sensitive regions such as West Bengal continue to experience risks of election-related violence, especially post-poll violence.

3. Misinformation

1. The spread of fake news, deepfakes, and misleading political advertisements continues to influence voter perception.
2. The Election Commission has mandated pre-certification of political advertisements before publication near polling days.
3. Social media platforms have adopted voluntary codes of ethics, but enforcement remains only partially effective.

4. Model Code of Conduct Violations

1. Appeals based on caste, religion, ethnicity, and sectarian identity continue to occur during election campaigns.
2. Political manifestos sometimes include fiscally unsustainable promises that challenge ethical campaign practices.

Role of Technology and Monitoring Mechanisms

1. The Election Commission has introduced round-the-clock live webcasting of polling stations to improve transparency and monitoring.
2. Surveillance teams and flying squads have been deployed to monitor the movement of cash, liquor, and other inducement materials.
3. Authorities are also monitoring digital financial transactions to prevent electoral bribery through online channels.
4. These measures strengthen transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

Voter-Centric Electoral Reforms

1. SVEEP Programme

1. The Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme has significantly improved voter awareness and participation across the country.
2. The programme has encouraged ethical voting behaviour and strengthened citizen engagement in democratic processes.

2. Inclusive Voting Measures

1. The Election Commission has introduced home voting facilities for voters aged above 85 years and for persons with disabilities to ensure inclusive participation.
2. The introduction of larger font sizes and colour photographs of candidates on electronic voting machines has improved voter accessibility.
3. Facilities for depositing mobile phones at polling stations have enhanced the secrecy and integrity of the voting process.

3. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls

1. The Special Intensive Revision exercise has removed absentee, shifted, and deceased voters from electoral rolls to improve their accuracy.
2. The revision process is expected to enhance voter participation by ensuring cleaner electoral rolls.
3. However, the exercise has also generated political debate regarding transparency and neutrality in implementation.

Persistent Challenges in Ensuring Electoral Integrity

1. Electoral Freebies and Inducements

1. Electoral inducements in cash or kind continue to influence voter choices despite regulatory measures.
2. Attempts by the judiciary and the Election Commission to regulate campaign freebies have achieved limited success so far.

2. Election-Related Violence

1. Some states continue to witness election-related violence before and after polling, affecting voter confidence and participation.
2. Political polarization further increases the vulnerability of certain regions during elections.

3. Digital Misinformation

1. The rapid spread of misinformation through social media platforms continues to challenge election regulators.
2. Deepfake technology has further complicated efforts to ensure truthful campaign communication.

4. Identity-Based Campaigning: Campaign appeals based on caste, religion, ethnicity, and regional identity continue despite legal restrictions under electoral laws.
5. Concerns About Administrative Neutrality: Transfers of administrative officials during elections sometimes become politically contentious and affect perceptions of institutional independence.

Role and Responsibility of Voters

1. Voters play a crucial role in protecting the integrity of elections by rejecting inducements offered in cash or kind.
2. Citizens should resist misinformation and divisive political narratives while exercising their franchise responsibly.
3. Ethical voting behaviour strengthens democracy and reinforces the legitimacy of electoral outcomes.

Way Forward

1. Strengthening Institutional Independence of the Election Commission: The independence and functional autonomy of the Election Commission should be strengthened through transparent appointment mechanisms and institutional safeguards.
2. Regulating Electoral Freebies and Campaign Financing: Clear legal guidelines should be developed to regulate election-time freebies and improve transparency in political funding.
3. Combating Digital Misinformation: Stronger regulatory frameworks and technological tools should be adopted to counter fake news and deepfake content during elections.
4. Ensuring Strict Enforcement of Model Code of Conduct: Violations of the Model Code of Conduct should attract stronger penalties to discourage identity-based campaigning and unethical practices.
5. Enhancing Voter Awareness Programmes: Expansion of voter education initiatives such as SVEEP can promote informed and ethical voting behaviour across regions.
6. Strengthening Security and Surveillance Mechanisms: Improved coordination between election authorities and security agencies can further reduce election-related violence and inducements.

Conclusion: India’s electoral system demonstrates strong administrative capacity and institutional resilience under the supervision of the Election Commission of India. However, persistent challenges such as money power, misinformation, electoral violence, and identity-based campaigning continue to affect electoral integrity. Strengthening institutional safeguards along with responsible participation by citizens is essential for ensuring free, fair, and credible elections in India.

Question: Free and fair elections are the foundation of India’s democratic legitimacy.” Discuss the major challenges faced by the Election Commission of India in ensuring electoral integrity in recent years.

Source: The Hindu