Page 286 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

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

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