What are the challenges confronting the EC?, Pg12.

Key Highlights:

• Rahul Gandhi alleged massive electoral roll manipulations in Mahadevapura constituency, Karnataka.
• Similar allegations were earlier made in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Delhi about irregular voter roll entries.
• In Bihar, EC’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) led to a 65 lakh voter reduction (7.89 cr → 7.24 cr).
• Supreme Court intervened, asking EC to provide booth-wise deletion lists with reasons.
• EC resists providing machine-readable voter rolls, citing cybersecurity risks, a stance upheld by SC in 2018.
• Opposition parties escalated protests, attempting a march to EC headquarters; Parliament proceedings disrupted.

Detailed Insights:

• Mandate of EC: A permanent constitutional body vested with conduct of elections for Parliament, State legislatures, President, and Vice-President. Initially one CEC, later expanded to a multi-member commission.
• Appointment Controversy: Under the 2023 Act, ECs are appointed by a 3-member panel (PM, Union Minister, LoP). Critics argue imbalance (2:1) favors government nominees.
• Bihar SIR Concerns: Voters born post-1987 had to submit parents’ birth proofs; seen as excessively burdensome, leading to fears of mass disenfranchisement.
• SC Directions: EC must now ensure transparency by giving reasons for deletions, accept Aadhaar as proof, and follow principles of natural justice.
• Migrant Voters: Still need to return home to vote, causing low turnout. Experts stress need for a cheap, secure, transparent system tailored for India’s socio-economic conditions.
• Political Fallout: United Opposition accusing EC of bias; protests likely to continue, keeping electoral reforms at the centre of political discourse.

Concepts Involved:

• Machine-readable voter rolls: Digitally searchable rolls that allow data verification and cross-checking, but pose cybersecurity and privacy risks if misused.
• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): Extraordinary voter list cleanup exercise beyond annual routine revisions, meant to eliminate duplicates/dead voters but raising fears of overreach.