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Electoral Reforms - Way Forward Chapter 9

removed from his office except in like manner and on the the autonomy of the ins tu on, the proposed change
like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court. Elec on will save a lot of me.
Commission is a mul -member body since 1993. An Elec on Commission of India is ac vely working towards
amendment of the aforesaid Ar cle will bring true
making “Remote Vo ng” a reality, in near future. It will
autonomy to the Commission.
benefit the enrolled voters who are away from their
2.) At present, the annual expenditure of the Elec on respec ve cons tuencies during the polls for reasons of
Commission is voted in the Union Budget as part of the educa on, profession or medical treatment etc. A team of
demand for grants of Ministry of Law and Jus ce. A technocrats from IIT-Chennai and other IITs are working to
charged budget on the lines of the other Cons tu onal develop a secure 'blockchain' vo ng system. A 'Remote
bodies like the Supreme Court, Comptroller & Auditor Vo ng” Cell has been created inside the Elec on
General and Union Public Service Commission would Commission. The pilot projects will begin soon; and
technology might be available to voters across the na on by
be in the interest of the autonomy of the Commission.
the Eighteenth General Elec ons in 2024. “Remote vo ng”,
3.) At present, the Elec on Commission has a separate however, should not be confused with e-Vo ng. The
secretariat of its own in New Delhi. The service Elec on Commission is not contempla ng Internet-based
condi ons of its officers and staff are regulated by vo ng facility from home. The voters, away from their
rules made by the President of India under Ar cle 309 cons tuencies, would be able to vote in a secured fashion
of the Cons tu on of India which is similar to other from designated public facili es set up by the Elec on
departments and ministries of the Union Government. Commission. Implementa on of the facility would require
To completely insulate the Commission from poli cal amendment in the Representa on of the People Act, 1951.
pressure and execu ve interference, it is impera ve Another priority item of agenda of the Elec on
that the ins tu on should have an independent
Commission is NRI (Non Resident Indians) vo ng by e-
secretariat on the line of Lok Sabha Secretariat and
ballot. At present while the NRI can enroll from abroad,
Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
they need to vote physically in their cons tuencies. This
At present, the power to make rules/regula ons under leads to their dismal par cipa on in the elec ons. While
the statutes is vested in the Government. Sec on 28 of the technology of Electronically Transmi ed Postal Ballot
the Representa on of the People Act, 1950 and Sec on System (ETPBS) is available, the NRIs at present are not
169 of the Representa on of the People Act, 1951 covered under defini on of Service Voters to avail that
authorise the Union Government to frame rules in facility. The Elec on Commission has wri en to the
consulta on with Elec on Commission of India. Legisla ve Department, Ministry of Law and Jus ce for
changing of rules to allow the NRIs to vote by e-ballot.
However, since the Government is not bound to abide by
those recommenda ons, rules framed and amended The Elec on Commission has urged upon the Ministry of
External Affairs to conduct a seminar on the theme by
have o en been not in line with them. The Elec on
involving all stakeholders to work out the modali es.
Commission favours an amendment in the twin statutes
to vest the rule-making authority into the Commission in The Elec on Commission has always pursued fresh ideas
consulta on with the Government. Besides enhancing and be er prac ces to make the elec ons a be er

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