ECI’s Transparency Issues Raise Serious Concerns

THE ECI’S LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS WORRYING

Why in the news?

• On June 24, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Bihar voter list, covering verification of nearly 8 crore voters.
• The decision was taken without prior public information or consultation, raising transparency concerns.
• The ECI also stated that the SIR exercise will be extended across the entire country.
• The process has been marked by secrecy and lack of transparency on the ground, prompting questions about its credibility and impact on voter trust.

Several Concerns

Massive Voter Deletions in Bihar

• In the first phase of the SIR in Bihar, 65 lakh names were deleted from the draft electoral roll.
• This amounts to about 27,000 deletions per constituency on average.
• In the 2020 Assembly elections, two-thirds of seats were won with a margin smaller than the current deletion figures, meaning this could potentially swing results in most constituencies.

Reasons for Deletion (as per ECI)

• 22 lakh voters found to be dead.
• 36 lakh had permanently shifted out of Bihar or were untraceable.
• 7 lakh enrolled in multiple places.

Lack of Transparency in Deletion Process

• The full list of deleted names with reasons has not been made public.
• ECI claims booth-level lists were shared with political parties but without reasons for deletion.
• Without such data, parties and citizens cannot verify the legitimacy of deletions.
• Deletion errors often disproportionately impact marginalised communities, risking disenfranchisement and erosion of trust.

Questionable Rationale for Nationwide SIR

Absence of Public Explanation

• A nationwide SIR involving nearly 100 crore voters is an extraordinary step.
• Public has a right to know:

○ What large-scale discrepancies or inaccuracies prompted this move?

○ Why start with poll-bound Bihar during monsoons?

Missing Evidence of ‘Independent Appraisal’

• In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, ECI cited concerns from political parties and an independent appraisal as reasons.
• The 800-page affidavit does not include this appraisal.
• Failure to share methodology and findings violates the right to information and raises fears of arbitrariness or external pressures.

Controversy Over Citizenship Proof Requirement

Exemption for 2003 Bihar Electoral Rolls

• ECI has exempted only those registered in 2003 Bihar rolls from proving citizenship.
• Reason given: Last intensive revision in 2003 supposedly verified citizenship status.

Questions Raised

• Did ECI in 2003 actually require voters to produce citizenship proof like passports or birth certificates?
• Former Election Commissioners say such a requirement was never imposed before.

Fears of NRC Through Backdoor

• Current insistence on documents to prove citizenship has led to suspicion of a covert NRC implementation.

Missing 2003 Records

• ECI’s defence hinges on replicating the 2003 process.
• However, orders and guidelines from the 2003 revision are missing from the public domain.
• Not available on ECI website and not annexed in the Supreme Court affidavit.
• When journalists asked, chief electoral officers claimed the records could not be traced.

The Risks of Opaqueness

High Stakes Beyond Voting Rights

• Inability to prove citizenship during SIR could lead to consequences far beyond loss of voting rights.
• Election officers can refer suspected foreign nationals to authorities under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Threat to Electoral Democracy

• Lack of transparency in Bihar’s SIR process poses serious risks to democratic functioning.
• Potential disenfranchisement undermines election legitimacy.
• Erodes public trust in institutions designed to protect the democratic process.

Way Forward

Ensure Full Transparency

• Publish the complete list of deleted voters along with reasons for deletion at booth level.
• Make the independent appraisal report and 2003 revision guidelines publicly accessible.
• Release daily press releases detailing the progress of the SIR process.

Strengthen Oversight

• Involve all recognised political parties in verification and cross-checking of deletions.
• Allow independent observers (e.g., from civil society and academia) to monitor the process.
• Engage booth level agents from political parties in the verification process.

Safeguard Against Disenfranchisement

• Provide adequate notice and appeals mechanism for voters before deletion.
• Prioritise door-to-door verification in vulnerable and marginalised communities.
• Implement a two-tier appeal mechanism for addressing grievances related to voter deletions.

Clarify Citizenship Proof Requirements

• Ensure uniform and reasonable documentation standards across states.
• Avoid measures that could be perceived as indirect NRC implementation.
• Clearly define acceptable documents for proving citizenship in enumeration forms.

Improve Communication & Trust-Building

• Proactively explain the rationale, scope, and safeguards of the SIR to the public.
• Use multi-language outreach campaigns to reach all voter groups.
• Conduct regular briefings by chief electoral officers on the progress of the SIR.

Enhance State Election Machinery

• Provide comprehensive training to booth level officers on the SIR process.
• Strengthen the state election machinery to handle the massive task of voter verification.
• Ensure adequate resources and manpower for timely completion of the SIR.

Streamline the Process

• Develop user-friendly enumeration forms for efficient data collection.
• Implement a robust system for updating the draft electoral roll based on verified information.
• Set clear timelines for the publication of the final electoral roll after the SIR process.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-ecis-lack-of-transparency-is-worrying/article69916551.ece

Mains question

“Discuss the implications of the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls on electoral integrity and voter trust.”