President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said the effective use of technology by the Election Commission (EC) would further enhance all activities related to the process of holding polls in India.
In her address at an event to mark the 14th National Voters’ Day, Ms. Murmu appreciated the efforts of the EC in ensuring inclusive elections by enhancing the participation of women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Describing the process of holding Lok Sabha elections as the biggest logistics exercise in the world, she noted that in the last 75 years, the poll authority had organised 17 Lok Sabha elections and over 400 Assembly elections.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who was also present at the event, favoured a single electoral roll for all elections.
“Discussions are on relating to two-three issues that there should be a single voters’ list. I want to tell you [CEC Rajiv Kumar] that when we go for elections, it is a big issue. [People] say [their] name was deleted from the voters’ list, we faced difficulty in including our name in the voters’ list. You [EC] have made the system online and have simplified it. But if we move ahead on the issue of a single voters’ list, it will be a big step,” he said.
Cost reduction
Currently, the EC prepares the rolls for Lok Sabha and Assembly polls while State election commissions prepare their own voters’ list for holding local body polls such as panchayats and municipalities. Those favouring a single electoral roll have argued that it would prevent duplication of efforts and reduce costs. Many a time registered voters have also claimed that while their name is in one list, it is missing from the other.
The Law Minister is also a part of the high-level committee on ‘One Nation, One Election’, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which is exploring the issue of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, municipalities and panchayats. The committee is also looking into the subject of a single electoral roll.
The President said the youth were the future leaders of our democracy and observed that young voters present at the event were representatives of crores of youth of the country, who would play a decisive role in building India of 2047.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the commission was committed to ensuring a level playing field to all political parties in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
