On National Voters’ Day, Law Minister hints at electoral reforms in the offing

Speaking at the Election Commission of India’s National Voters’ Day celebrations here, Meghwal recalled the reforms over the years – reduction of the voting age from 21 years to 18 years and the introduction of the voter ID card.

आज 14वें राष्ट्रीय मतदाता दिवस के अवसर पर निवार्चन आयोग द्वारा आयोजित कार्यक्रम में आदरणीय राष्ट्रपति श्रीमती द्रौपदी मुर्मू जी के सहभागिता किया।

भारतीय चुनाव आयोग पूरे देश में आयोजित होने वाले सभी चुनावों को पूरी पारदर्शिता व कर्तव्यनिष्ठा के साथ संपन्न कराता है। pic.twitter.com/FqGC9M70dm

— Arjun Ram Meghwal (@arjunrammeghwal) January 25, 2024

He told Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar that during election campaigns, people often complain of having their names struck off the electoral rolls or they find it difficult in getting enrolled.

“There is discussion on two-three issues right now. There should be a single voter list. Rajiv Kumarji, I want to tell you that this is a big issue. When we go for elections, people say their names have been struck off or they are having trouble in adding their names. If we move towards a single voter list, it will be a big step in that direction,” he said.

As of now, the Election Commission of India (ECI) prepares the electoral rolls for the Lok Sabha and state elections through the Chief Electoral Officers of states and Union Territories, while the State Election Commissions prepare the electoral rolls for the local body elections.

The proposal of the government has been under consideration since 2020 when the Prime Minister’s Office had organised a meeting with the Law Ministry and EC officials to discuss the matter.

The Law Ministry in 2023 then set up a high-level committee under President Ram Nath Kovind to look into the ways to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, Assemblies, municipal corporations and panchayats. Among the terms of reference of the committee is to “examine and recommend the modalities of use of a single electoral roll”. The committee is in the process of holding consultations with stakeholders and is yet to submit its report.

Earlier during the National Voters’ Day event, the CEC said the Law Ministry had always been supportive towards the ECI and in Meghwal’s tenure in particular, the ECI’s proposals had been supported with “responsiveness”. He added that the EC’s attempt in 2024 would be to ensure peaceful elections, with less “shor-sharaba” (noise) and “clutter”.

During the event, which marks the anniversary of the foundation of the ECI on January 25, 1950, President Droupadi Murmu awarded election officials for their performance in 2023. Chhattisgarh won the award for the Best State in Election Management in 2023.

In his address, Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said the electors had increased from 17 crore in 1952 to 96 crore now, of which 47 crore are women. He said the ECI had intensified “vulnerability mapping” to increase participation from the vulnerable sections of society.

Election Commissioner Arun Goel said the ECI had recently introduced the concept of “most convenient” location for setting up polling stations, particularly in urban areas. He said this would lead to higher turnout. For example, polling stations are being set up in community centres of multi-storied residential societies, making it more convenient for electors to cast their votes.