Chief Election Commissioner Conference Overview
Chief Election Commissioner together with Election Commissioners presided over a two-day conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all States and Union Territories at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi.
Key Directives and Issues Discussed
- The Election Commission (EC) instructed State-level officials to engage regularly with political parties to address issues within the existing statutory framework.
- CEOs were directed to submit issue-wise action taken reports by March 31, 2025.
- There were complaints regarding anomalies, like the duplication of voter ID numbers in West Bengal and voter list manipulation in Maharashtra.
- The EC emphasized that each voter gets a unique Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number.
Improving Election Management
- Discussions focused on enhancing election management within the established legal framework.
- The CEC emphasized transparency, responsiveness, and the importance of fulfilling statutory obligations according to laws such as:
- The Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951
- Registration of Elector Rules, 1960
- Conduct of Election Rules, 1961
- All citizens aged above 18 should be registered as electors.
Polling Booth Management
- Efforts must be made to maintain between 800 and 1,200 electors per polling booth, ensuring they are within a two-km radius of the elector's residence.
- Establish polling booths with minimum facilities in rural areas and in high-rise buildings and slum clusters in urban areas to bolster voter turnout.
Stakeholder Capacity Building
- The EC has identified 28 distinct stakeholders in the election process, including CEOs, political parties, candidates, and polling agents.
- The conference aimed to strengthen the capacity building of these stakeholders to improve overall election management.
