The Election Commission has regularly been addressing the parliament in setting forth reforms in our election system that would help our voting process become more transparent, reliable and rewarding.
The quintessential reforms that the EC wants to be enforced are summarized below
Declaration of Financial Assets of Parties & Candidates, Criminal Records of Candidates & Disqualification based on Unlawful Activities.
The past few years have seen many candidates with condemnable activities stand for elections. The EC has been pressuring the ruling governments to pass a law that requires all candidates to disclose all such criminal antecedents and debar candidates that have been proven guilty by the judicial system so that “we the people” can judge their capability in representing us. The EC also wants a law to be passed that allows the auditing of all financial assets of the running candidates and parties so that they can verify none of the advertizing money is obtained through unsavory means.
Increasing Security Deposit of Candidates.
In order to essentially reduce the amount of weak candidates contesting an election and thereby making it easy for us “electors” in deciding our choice from a smaller pool, the EC has been trying to pass an amendment that increases the security deposit from a 5000 rupees to 20000 rupees.
When a candidate wins two or more electoral seats, it warranties a re-election in at the least one or more seats. A re-election engages more of the elector’s tax money than required. Hence, the EC has also been trying to convince the government that when a candidate tries to get elected from two or more constituencies the security deposit for the candidate should be considerably higher. The prime reason for trying to institute this added amendment to the existing law is to lower the burden of taxes on the electors.
Restriction of Dissemination of Results of Exit Polls & Survey.
Often, we electors are influenced by exit polls results from constituencies that have already completed their voting to change our opinion on our ballot. The EC wants a law to be passed that disallows the publication of these exit polls until the end of entire election.
“None of the above” amendment for the electors.
The EC has been vigorously trying to implement the “none of the above” option on our ballot papers that necessitates if significant in number; a re-election at that constituency and thereby strengths the definition of democracy as a government by the people.
Anti Defection Law.
The EC has proposed that all members of a political party that go against the majority decision of the party in parliamentary events such as no confidence motions etc. should be disqualified from office to prevent our democracy from derailment.
The Election commission has many such novel ideas of creating a stable environment for the voter during an election and safe guarding the interests of Indian citizens after elections. Most of these reforms (suggested years ago) are still being “looked” by the governments in power. To see all proposed electoral reforms by the EC follow the link below.
For a detailed report on Electoral Reforms click here.
