Electoral Reforms in India

Electoral reforms in India refer to the improvements and changes needed or proposed to enhance the electoral process’s transparency, efficiency, and fairness over the years. Read here to learn more about them.

Given the scale and complexity of conducting elections in the world’s largest democracy, continuous reforms are vital to address various challenges and uphold the integrity of the electoral system.

The history of electoral reforms in India is extensive, reflecting the continuous efforts to enhance elections’ fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the world’s largest democracy.

Table of Contents

Electoral Reforms in India

Effective electoral reforms require robust legislative changes, active enforcement by institutions like the Election Commission of India, and participation from political parties, civil society, and the electorate.

The ongoing dialogue about these reforms is crucial for evolving and sustaining democracy in India.

Since gaining independence in 1947, India has made several significant amendments and reforms to its electoral processes to address various challenges and improve the electoral system.

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Here is an overview of the key electoral reforms in India:

1950-1960s: Establishment and Early Reforms

• 1950: The Election Commission of India (ECI) was established under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution to administer and supervise all aspects of elections. The primary objective was to ensure free and fair elections.
• 1951-52: The first general elections were conducted, marking the implementation of universal adult suffrage without discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender.
• 1969:Model code of conduct was implemented

1970s-1980s: Reforms for Transparency and Integrity

• 1975: The period of Emergency in India led to significant concerns about the independence and fairness of the electoral process.
• 1982: The township of Paravur in Kerala saw the use of EVMs in the by-elections. However, the Supreme Court declared the election invalid following the absence of a law prescribing EVM.
• 1988: The Election Commission was made a multi-member body to ensure decisions were more balanced, and comprehensive.
• This period also saw the introduction of the Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule of the Constitution) to prevent political defections motivated by the lure of office or other similar considerations.
• 61 st Constitutional Amendment Act lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years.

1990s: Technological Integration and Voter Inclusion

• 1993: Voter ID cards were introduced to curb electoral fraud and verify voter identity.
• 1998: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were first used on an experimental basis to improve the accuracy of vote counting and reduce the instances of ballot box stuffing and booth capturing.

2000s: Strengthening Frameworks and Expanding Outreach

• 2000: The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2000, was introduced, allowing Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to vote in their place of residence.
• 2004: The introduction of the “None of the Above” (NOTA) option on EVMs provided voters the choice to reject all candidates if they were not satisfied with the options available.

2010s: Recent Developments

• 2010: Voting rights to Indian citizens living abroad.
• 2013: The Supreme Court of India directed that the use of NOTA should be implemented in all voting machines and ballots.
• 2016: The ECI introduced the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system with EVMs to provide a physical verification system for votes cast electronically, enhancing transparency in the electoral process.
• 2017: Electoral bonds were introduced.
• 2018: The ‘Suvidha’ portal was launched, providing a single-window system for candidates and political parties to submit pre-certification and applications for various electoral services.

2020 and Beyond

• Efforts to link Aadhaar with voter IDs to clean up electoral rolls and prevent voter fraud were proposed.
• Additionally, the ECI has been exploring options to facilitate remote voting for domestic migrants and increased digitization for more efficient electoral management.
• Right to Reject: The introduction of the ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option on EVMs was a step towards giving voters the right to reject all candidates if they are not satisfied with them. However, its impact remains limited as elections are still decided by the highest vote-getters, regardless of NOTA votes.
• Dealing with Fake News: With the rise of social media, the spread of misinformation and fake news during election times has become a serious concern. Strengthening regulations and collaboration with tech companies to monitor and manage content during elections is critical.
• 2024: Home voting for people with disabilities and people above the age of 85 years.

Electoral Committees

India has seen the formation of various committees and commissions over the years to review and recommend improvements in the electoral process.

These bodies have played a crucial role in evolving and refining electoral laws and practices.

Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990)

• Formed under the chairmanship of former Law Minister Dinesh Goswami, this committee made comprehensive recommendations on electoral reforms.
• Key suggestions included limiting the size of election expenses, banning the use of government resources in campaigns, introducing voter IDs, and more transparent funding of political parties.

Tarkunde Committee (1975)

• Also known as the Citizens’ Commission on Elections, this committee was led by Justice V. M. Tarkunde.
• It made pioneering recommendations, including the introduction of proportional representation and state funding of elections.

Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998)

• Chaired by former Home Minister Indrajit Gupta, this committee strongly advocated for state funding of elections to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and to combat the influence of wealthy donors and black money in politics.

Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008)

• This commission, chaired by Veerappa Moily, also touched upon electoral reforms in its recommendations.
• It emphasized the need for greater transparency in campaign financing and suggested measures to strengthen the Election Commission.

Vohra Committee (1993)

• Although not directly related to electoral reforms, the Vohra Committee Report dealt with the criminalization of politics and its nexus with organized crime, which indirectly influences electoral integrity.

Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2002)

• This committee was tasked with reviewing the workings of the electoral trust scheme, which was a significant aspect of political funding reforms.

Law Commission Reports

• The Law Commission of India, through its 170th Report (1999) and 255th Report (2015), made extensive recommendations on electoral reforms.
• These reports addressed issues such as the appointment of election commissioners, the decriminalisation of politics, regulation of political parties, and electoral finance reforms.

Election Commission Proposals and Internal Committees

• Over the years, the Election Commission itself has proposed numerous changes to improve the electoral process, based on internal reviews and the work of various advisory committees.
• These include reforms in electoral rolls, polling procedures, EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) management, and more recently, the linking of Aadhaar with voter IDs to clean up electoral rolls.

Conclusion

Throughout its history, electoral reforms in India have aimed to enhance democratic governance by making the electoral process more inclusive, transparent, and technologically advanced.

The ECI continues to adapt and innovate to meet the challenges of conducting elections in such a vast and diverse nation.

Related articles:

• Simultaneous elections
• AI in elections
• Cross-voting in elections
• Green elections
• Political party system
• Inner party democracy
• Alternative voting methods in India
• Proportional Representation

-Article by Swathi Satish