Page 250 - Leap of Faith inside pages with cover (1)

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

Notwithstanding, howsoever the procedures are indigenous and fool proof technology to make elec ons
codified, new challenges perturb the equilibrium. In the simpler, transparent, par cipa ve and orderly. Technology
1970s, muscle power emerged as a menace in various is reshaping the way enrollment, enforcement and
states. Incidents of booth capturing increased. While the elec oneering exercise is done. Managing the world's
introduc on of Electors Photo Iden ty Card (EPIC) and largest elec ons – where the electorate size has registered
EVMs curbed muscle power, the hydra-headed menace of five-fold growth between the First and Seventeenth
money power keeps the enforcement agencies on their General Elec ons – was facilitated by the intelligent use
toes. In recent years the electronic, digital and social of technology.
media pla orms have emerged as an unpredictable factor It is the right to vote that made Indians free. Adult suffrage
that must be monitored. The Elec on Commission – in
was the symbol of transforma on of subjects into ci zens.
coordina on with the stakeholders in electoral process – The Elec on Commission is not commi ed to merely taking
believes in keeping a step ahead of the challenges.
this right down to the last adult ci zen of India, but also
Indian civiliza on and culture has been marked with mo va ng and facilita ng him/her to enthusias cally
inclusivity, tolerance and accommoda on. World over, exercise that right. The ins tu on has acted as a catalyst to
there is a trend towards inclusive policy making. Elec on make India a living republic. It is hoped that elec ons of the
Commission of India has advanced the philosophy of future will be both sta s cally and qualita vely be er. The
inclusivity into the field of electoral management. From necessary improvements in legisla ve, administra ve,
enrollment to actual polling, inclusivity is priori sed as a enforcement and technological architecture are being
ma er of outlook and ac on. Thus under the SVEEP constantly pursued. The recently passed Elec on Laws
(Systema c Voters' Educa on and Electoral Par cipa on) (Amendment) Bill, 2021 promises far reaching
non-mainstream voters like senior ci zens, PwD (Persons improvements in electoral management and par cipa on.
The elec ons must capture the imagina on of people,
with Disabili es), members of Third Gender, young and
first me voters, migrant voters, service voters etc are before they capture their votes. To this end the support of
all stakeholders like voters, poli cal par es, enforcement
especially targe ed for enrollment and facilita on.
agencies, civil society organisa ons, thinkers etc are
Technology has become a pillar of good governance. needed. The elec ons have an interes ng history in India.
Elec on Commission of India has always relied on They will, one can confidently say, have a glorious future.

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