India's electoral process among world's most transparent, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has described India's electoral process as among the most transparent in the world, saying political parties, candidates and their agents are involved in verification at every stage — from preparation of electoral rolls to the counting of votes.

Speaking at an interaction with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at Atal Kalam Hall of Gujarat University on Friday, Kumar said the continuous involvement of political parties and candidates provides multiple layers of verification throughout the election process.

"At every stage of India's electoral process, political parties, candidates or their agents continuously carry out verification. Therefore, India's electoral process is among the most transparent electoral processes in the world," an official release quoted him as saying.

Kumar said electoral rolls are continuously verified with the participation of political parties and their Booth Level Agents (BLAs). BLOs are responsible for identifying cases involving voters who are absent, shifted, deceased, duplicated or foreigners, while also ensuring that eligible citizens are not left out of the rolls.

He stressed that every eligible Indian citizen who has attained the age of 18 should have their name included in the electoral rolls.

The CEC also outlined the safeguards built into the polling and counting processes.

Before polling begins, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units undergo mock polls in the presence of polling agents representing candidates. After polling ends, procedures relating to EVM results are completed in the presence of candidates' agents, with the required documents signed by those present.

During counting, votes recorded in EVMs are verified against the figures recorded in Form 17C in the presence of candidates' counting agents, according to the release.

Kumar said the Election Commission undertakes electoral roll revision, including the Special Intensive Revision process, from time to time to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the rolls.

He said BLOs play a crucial role in this exercise by visiting voters' homes and interacting directly with them to verify details. The verification process also involves submission of relevant documents, mapping and hearings wherever required.

Urging BLOs to remain actively engaged in checking electoral rolls in their respective areas, Kumar asked them to ensure that young people who have turned 18 are promptly added to the rolls.

"Ensuring that every eligible citizen gets a place on the electoral roll is one of the greatest services to the country's democracy," he said.

The CEC also took part in the fifth regional conference on "Electoral Literacy Clubs and ECINET" in Ahmedabad, which focused on strengthening electoral awareness and democratic participation among young citizens.

Kumar urged young people and participants at the event to download the ECINET app and assist family members and others in registering eligible voters on the electoral roll.

He said Electoral Literacy Clubs operating in schools and colleges can play an important role in nurturing democratic values among young people.

More than 1,000 Electoral Literacy Club members, school and college nodal officers, campus ambassadors, BLOs and other stakeholders participated in the interaction with Kumar and other dignitaries.

Kumar also pointed to India's current chairmanship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), an organisation comprising 35 democracies, saying it reflects international recognition of India's free and fair electoral system.

Reiterating the importance of participation, the CEC said every citizen who has attained the age of 18 should be enrolled as a voter and urged citizens to fulfil their democratic responsibility by exercising their right to vote on polling day.