Election Commission
Election Commission Gears Up To Resume Aadhaar-Voter ID Link
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Friday, 28 September 2018 12:12
Election Commission Gears Up To Resume Aadhaar-Voter ID Link
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
A day after the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the verification of the base, the Election Commission of India has started preparations for the resumption of the process of linking the Aadhaar number with the photo identity card (EPIC) of the voters, ID card is also called.
The project of linking Aadhaar number with voter id was taken up in 2015. However, it got suspended due to privacy-related concerns and the ongoing case on Adhaar regarding the same.
At this time, the Commission had linked the Aadhaar number of nearly 38 Cr voters before the suspension of the project. Currently, it looks to decide “quickly” on this matter in order to cover the maximum number of voters.
The Commission has reportedly decided to analyse the legal aspects because there was no specific mention of the issue in the top court order issued on September 26.
According to the Commission, the linking of Aadhaar is important to check duplication in electoral rolls.
In the future, it would also help in the implementation of advanced voting mechanism like electronic or internet-based voting and also extending “remote voting” right to domestic migrants.
According to the proposal, linking Aadhaar with voter id cards will not be mandatory and thus the voters can choose whether they wish to link to not.
However, according to the Commission, certain services such as internet voting in the future will be available to those who have linked Aadhaar with their Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC).
In 2017, the Commission had reportedly filed an application in the Supreme Court to continue with Aadhaar linking keeping larger public interest in mind.
Earlier this year, the EC had reportedly reiterated its plea that the linking of Aadhaar and voter will be voluntary.
This development comes in a few months after union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had told the media that personally, he is not in favour of linking Aadhaar with EPIC cards as the government “was not willing to face the accusation of spying on the people”.
Aadhaar Judgement In India
After a long wait on the Aadhaar case. The SC had ruled in favour of the Aadhaar Act stating that Aadhaar is mandatory only for filing income tax returns and for the allotment of PAN. It won’t be essential for opening bank accounts or getting SIM cards from telecom operators.
The Aadhaar Case hearings went on for 38 days — the second-longest hearing in India’s judicial history.
The Constitution bench had begun the final hearing on a batch of petitions on January, primarily on the grounds that the Aadhaar Act violated individuals right to privacy.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court had also asked Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to give a technical powerpoint presentation in order to identify the misgivings related to security of the data collected under the scheme and remove them.
At the presentation, the UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey claimed that “It would take more than the age of the universe to break one encryption.”
The UIDAI had also mandated the use of face recognition for Aadhaar authentication process.
EC notices to 8 Puducherry Legislatures get notice for holding office of profit
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 25 September 2018 11:22
EC notices to 8 Puducherry Legislatures get notice for holding office of profit
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
Puducherry: The Election Commission of India has issued notices to eight Puducherry MLAs, including six ruling Congress and two DMK legislators, who will be present in person on 27th September personally or through legal representatives.
ECI's directions comes following the complaints from leader of the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) and former legislator Om Sakthi Sekar who sought the disqualification of eight legislators who are holding office of profit in contravention of the Puducherry Members of the Legislative Assembly (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1994, and its subsequent amendments enacted in terms of section 14 of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. He had approached the President of India to consider the matter, following which the President referred the matter to ECI.
According to the notice sent by the ECI, on 2 September 2017, the President had sought the views of the Election Commission of India on the complaint, after which the commission had sought an explanation from eight legislators. Although the legislators submitted their interpretation to the ECI on July 12, 2017, the commission found it not satisfactory.
The commission once again sent notice to legislators seeking more clarifications from them and to appear before the commission on September 27. ECI had also warned that action will be initiated against the eight legislators without any prior intimation if they fail to appear before the commission. While talking to reporters here Mr Sekar said that the legislators would be disqualified soon as they failed to give a satisfactory explanation to the commission.
"When the legislators are disqualified, the Narayansamy government could no longer continue in power as they will lose the majority," said the former legislator.
EC reorganizes bypolls in Karnataka, Maharashtra
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Friday, 21 September 2018 11:22
EC reorganizes bypolls in Karnataka, Maharashtra
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
The last date for the nomination has pushed ahead on September 24 and for withdrawal of candidates is September 27.
The Election Commission on Thursday announced the redistribution of bypolls of Karnataka and Maharashtra Legislative Councils. Voting will take place between October 9 and 4 PM on October 4, 2018.
The EC had earlier issued a schedule for the by-elections in three seats in Karnataka Legislative Council and one seat in Maharashtra Legislative Council.
EC said “The Commission has suitably amended the schedule changing the last date for making nominations to the next working day, that is September 24 (Monday). Consequently, the date of scrutiny, the last date of withdrawal of candidatures and the date of the poll have been accordingly shifted”.
ECI Exiting Duplicate Voter IDs
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 September 2018 11:07
ECI Exiting Duplicate Voter IDs
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is using its ERONet software system to check out the errors and duplicate of voter identity cards in the state to expel duplicate. The software is also being used to enable people to get registered for voter identity card and get details of voter card changed online.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar said that ERONET software system will help in making voter list error-proofs through ECI Voter Identity Cards, through the comparison and verification of voter details including name, age, residential address, photographs and others. The names of dead persons are also being removed from the list.
“The software is identifying the discrepancies which are being verified by the booth-level officers (BLOs) by making a personal visit,” said Rajat Kumar. In the wake of complaints about discrepancies in the age of some voters, the officials concerned have been directed to investigate into these complaints and take necessary action for rectifying them. The BLOs are being monitored on a daily basis. The revision and registration of electoral rolls will be conducted till September 25.
Meanwhile, most electronic voting machines (EVMs) have come in the state and in the presence of representatives of all political parties, the first level inquiry of EVMs in four-five districts has started.
Election Commission seeks Election manifesto from parties
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Saturday, 15 September 2018 11:19
Election Commission seeks Election manifesto from parties
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India has directed all recognized political parties to submit the strict and soft copies of their election manifesto to the Commission. Chief Election Officer Rajat Kumar on Friday issued guidelines for strict adherence to the code of conduct issued by EC to all parties in this regard. In July 2013, after the Supreme Court, the need for such a code emerged, to ensure the "level playing field" between ECs to prepare guidelines from EC.
Guidelines issued by EC are called: “In the interests of transparency, level playing field and credibility of promises, it is expected that manifestos also reflect the rationale for promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it. Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled.”
Other guidelines include: The election manifesto shall not contain anything repugnant to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution and further it shall be consistent with the letter and spirit of other provisions of the model code of conduct. Political parties should avoid making those promises which are likely to vitiate the purity of the election process or exert undue influence on the voters in exercising their franchise.
No Whatsapp from 10pm to 6am, says ECI
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Thursday, 13 September 2018 11:39
No Whatsapp from 10pm to 6am, says ECI
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
HYDERABAD: The contestant should not disturb voters with SMS or messages at WhatsApp from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM on WhatsApp. It is according to Election Commission of India written to the Chief Electoral Offices of all the States and Union Territories.
In the instructions of prevention of open spaces and public property, ECI Secretary NT Bhutia told that loudspeakers are restricted from 10:00 PM to 6 AM. While revising its letter dated April 20, 2018, the Commission has also said that during that time the activity related to the campaign including the use of door-to-door campaign, SMS, WhatsApp, call and loudspeakers will be prohibited. “It is necessary to respect the privacy of the citizens and reduce disturbance to public life in general,” the ECI said.
These instructions will be informed to the District Election Officers, returning officers and other election-related officers and state units of national parties, recognized state parties and unrecognized parties registered in all the States and Union Territories.
Candidates must avoid use of plastic/polythene and similar non-degradable material for preparation of campaign material. There is a restriction on erecting banners and sign boards without permission.
EC says that the final voter list will be published on October 8
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Monday, 10 September 2018 11:17
As the Telangana assembly is ready for the early elections, EC says that the final voter list will be published on October 8
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
Hyderabad: After taking steps to prepare for the conduct of assembly elections in Telangana, the Indian Election Commission (EC) announced on Saturday that the final voter list will be published on October 8.
Election Commission suspended the ongoing process of amendment of electoral roll due to premature dissolution of the state assembly and declared a new program for amendment.
Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar said under the new schedule, an integrated draft electoral roll will be published on 10 September.
Claims and objections can be filed from 10 September to 25 September while disposal of claims and objections will be taken up on 4 October. Updating database and printing of supplement will be completed before 7 October.
8 October will be the date for final publication of the electoral roll, which means elections may be held any time after this date.
As per the schedule announced earlier, all new voters who will complete the age of 18 on 1 January 2019, would be eligible to submit applications to include their names in the voter list.
Under the second special summary revision announced on Saturday, those who completed the age of 18 on 1 January 2018 can still submit their requests for inclusion of their names.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao dissolved state Assembly on Thursday, nearly nine months before its term was to end, to clear the way for early elections.
The EC has indicated that the polls in Telangana could be held at the year-end along with four other states where elections are due.
The poll panel on Friday announced that it will send a team to Telangana on 11 September to study the poll preparedness of state machinery.
SOURCE: FIRSTPOST
BJD urges ECI to conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Saturday, 08 September 2018 11:36
BJD urges ECI to conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
BHUBANESWAR: The BJD on Wednesday informed the Election Commission of India (ECI) that the state government is ready to hold assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha elections if dates for the latter are advanced.
Amid speculations of Centre’s plan to advance the Lok Sabha poll, BJD MP and Supreme Court lawyer Pinaki Mishra met the ECI in New Delhi seeking simultaneous polls stating that it would save almost Rs 1000 crore from the exchequer.
“Any decision is taken by the Central government to prepone the Lok Sabha elections, before they are scheduled to be held in 2019, we would request you to make adequate preparations to hold elections to Odisha assembly simultaneously, so as to save the extra expenditure of almost Rs 1000 crore, which a state like Odisha can ill afford,” said Mishra in a memorandum, on behalf of the party, to the ECI.
BJD’s move is despite Union home minister Rajnath Singh recently ruled out the possibility of early Lok Sabha polls before schedule.
Briefing reporters here at his residence, BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the party has been saying for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assembly for the past two years.
Elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies are conducted simultaneously in Odisha since 2004. Assembly polls in Odisha are scheduled in April-May 2019.
The Puri MP said a decision on simultaneous elections would also help to avoid repeated model code of conduct in quick succession that affects the development works of the government for benefit of the people of the state.
Stating that the concept of simultaneous elections is not new to Odisha, Mishra said chief minister Naveen Patnaik broke the cycle of separate polls and consciously opted for simultaneous polls to the state assembly in 2004, though the elections were due in 2005 when the Lok Sabha was preponed by the then NDA government.
“That was the first simultaneous elections to the state assembly and Lok Sabha after 1971, that means after a gap of 33 years,” the memorandum reads.
While the Centre bears entire expenditure on the conduct of Lok Sabha, expenses for election to the state assemblies are borne by the respective state governments, when elections are held separately. “If elections are held simultaneously, the expenditure is shared between the Centre and state government,” said Mishra.
The BJD pitches for simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assembly as the decision helps the party. Party insiders said the government is ready to dissolve the state assembly if Centre will prepone the Lok Sabha elections.
SOURCE: THE TIMES OF INDIA
Election Commission gives a stern warning to officials against partisan behaviour in polls
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Saturday, 01 September 2018 15:15
Election Commission gives a stern warning to officials against partisan behaviour in polls
Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat has a strict message for government officials associating themselves with political parties. Photo: PTI
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat while in Bhopal on Wednesday issued a stern warning to officials overseeing election work in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, saying that any partisan activity will be taken seriously and "strict action will be taken against those indulging in it".
In reply to a question, the CEC also said that the Election Commission (EC) was keeping a watch on officers who were associating themselves with the ongoing Jan Ashirwad Yatra of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh.
The EC I's warnings come close on the heels of the previous Raipur Collector OP Chaudhry resigning to join the BJP in Chhattisgarh. Chaudhry's resignation and possible candidature from the party in upcoming assembly elections have been questioned by the Congress that has accused the bureaucracy of working for the ruling party. Chaudhry's resignation was secured and approved in record time once news of him agreeing to join the BJP became public.
The EC was slated to be in Raipur on August 30 and will meet district magistrates (DM) and superintendents of police (SP) of all districts. A potentially embarrassing situation wherein a serving collector who was being touted as a BJP candidate in upcoming polls would have met the ECI was also averted by the resignation of OP Chaudhry from the IAS.
Rawat also categorically stated that the polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh would be held as per schedule, dispelling any rumours that the polls may be delayed to coincide with the Lok Sabha elections. "The fact that we are here means that the elections would be held as per schedule," he said in reply to a question on whether polls can be deferred in Madhya Pradesh.
The CEC and Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa are on a tour of poll-bound states of Madhya and Chhattisgarh to oversee preparations for the upcoming elections. The Commission held meetings with DMs and SPs and also with representatives of political parties over two days.
The CEC also said that for the first time, citizens would be able to play a role in ensuring free and fair elections. An application called vigil would enable citizens to report any wrongdoing in polls and the complaint would be forwarded to the concerned DMs for action. Also, for the first time, the Commission would ensure setting up of at least one all-women managed polling booths.
The CEC rejected the allegations that there were issues with the electoral rolls as alleged by the Congress in states going to polls. He said that the ECI is conducting physical verification of voters and by the time the summary revision of rolls is completed on September 27, the issues would be resolved. He refused to comment on the matter involving Madhya Pradesh Minister for Public Relations Narottam Mishra's election being set aside by the ECI on allegations of paid news. "The matter is sub-judice and I cannot comment on it," he said.
Source: India Today
Election Commission plans for ‘normal’ Lok Sabha
- Details
- Category: Election Commission
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 14 August 2018 11:03
Election Commission plans for ‘normal’ Lok Sabha
Political Services Download latest voter list Booth wise
New Delhi: Even the Law Commission examines the proposal for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the Election Commission is focused on preparing for the general elections in April-May 2019 and preparation of some state elections at the same time. Election Commission has ordered an additional 17.4 lakh voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) units, 13.95 lakh ballot paper units and 9.3 lakh control units for elections in the LS polls and elections in five states, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh.
While EVM's ballot and control units are expected to be distributed by two PSU manufacturers- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) to September 2018, there is little behind VVPAT delivery schedules and expected to be November Will be completed only. According to EC sources, together with the elections, 34 lakh ballots units, 26 lakh control units and 27 lakh, VVPAT machines will be required in full terms.