Q.To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful? (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Body Analysis

Issues with the Quality of Democracy and Electoral Processes in India

graph TD
    Issues["Electoral Issues in India"] --> MF["Manipulation and Fraud"]
    Issues --> CF["Corruption and Fraud"]
    Issues --> PD["Political Dynasties"]
    Issues --> ID["Inequality and Disenfranchisement"]
    Issues --> WI["Weak Institutions"]
    Issues --> FI["Campaign Finance Issues"]
    Issues --> VS["Voter Suppression"]
    Issues --> MD["Electoral Management Delays"]

• Corruption and Electoral Fraud
• Political Dynasties
• Inequality and Disenfranchisement
• Weak Institutional Frameworks
• Electoral Manipulation
• Campaign Finance Malpractices
• Voter Suppression
• Delays in Electoral Management

Proposed Electoral Reforms by the Election Commission of India (2016)

1. Constitutional Protection for Election Commissioners

• Proposal: Extend the same constitutional safeguards to all Election Commissioners as currently enjoyed by the Chief Election Commissioner under Article 324(5).
• Significance: Ensures institutional independence and job security, protecting the commission from executive interference.

2. Budgetary Provisions

• Proposal: Charge the administrative expenditure of the ECI directly to the Consolidated Fund of India, rather than keeping it as a voted item.
• Significance: Secures financial autonomy, aligning the ECI with other independent constitutional bodies.

3. Independent Secretariat

• Proposal: Establish an independent secretariat for the ECI, similar to those of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the Supreme Court.
• Significance: Enhances operational efficiency and administrative autonomy.

4. Proxy Voting for Overseas Electors

• Proposal: Amend Section 60 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to allow non-resident Indians (NRIs) the option of proxy or postal voting.
• Significance: Facilitates greater political participation of the Indian diaspora.

5. Penalties for False Statements

• Proposal: Make the act of filing false declarations before the ECI a punishable electoral offense.
• Significance: Deters dishonest practices and enhances the credibility of candidate disclosures.

6. Revised Terms for Council Seats

• Proposal: Restructure the terms of the Council of States and State Legislative Councils to ensure regular, staggered biennial retirements of one-third of the members.
• Significance: Promotes continuity and regular renewal of legislative chambers.

7. Use of EVM Totalizers

• Proposal: Introduce EVM totalizers to aggregate votes from multiple polling stations simultaneously.
• Significance: Protects voter secrecy and speeds up the counting process.

8. Restrictions on Candidates with Serious Offences

• Proposal: Bar individuals charged with serious offenses (punishable by 5+ years of imprisonment) from contesting elections if charges are framed at least six months prior.
• Significance: Helps decriminalize politics and maintains the integrity of the legislature.

9. Voter Verification and Roll Purification

• Proposal/Description: Implement biometric voter verification and regular purification of electoral rolls to eliminate duplicate or deceased voters.
• Significance: Ensures highly accurate and reliable voter lists.

10. Transparency in Political Donations & Expenditure

• Proposal/Description: Enforce stricter regulations on political funding, mandate social media audits, and monitor candidate expenditures closely.
• Significance: Curbs the influence of black money and ensures a level playing field.