India's General
Elections 2014:
An Overview
14,April, 2014
Warsaw ,Poland.
Dr S.Y. Quraishi
Former Chief Election Commissioner of India
syquraishi@gmail.com,
India’s Giant Leap
•
India chose Democracy in 1950
•
Granted universal adult suffrage in the very first election
despite:
•
a 16% literacy rate.
•
and a caste-based hierarchical social system.
• oppressed masses of India had voted in many elections
before Switzerland allowed its women and Australia its
aborigines to vote.
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63
Years of Indian Elections
• India has conducted 15 General Elections to Parliament and
more than 340 General Elections to State Assemblies.
• More than 3 million elected representatives – National, State
and Local bodies.
• Indian elections never missed the deadline, credibility never
challenged.
• Barak Obama hailed Indian Elections as “historic” and an
“example for us all.”
.
Hilary Clinton described it as "global gold standard".
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Concerns of Diversity
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Inclusivity of all sections
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None to be marginalised
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Constitutional Safeguards for minorities :
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Religious / Linguistic / Ethnic / Cultural
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No intimidation allowed
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Inclusiveness : Provisions for Women
• Equal Voting Rights from day 1
• Separate queues for women at polling stations
• Separate polling stations for women in some areas
• Women Officers at polling stations for identity check
of women voters at Polling Stations
• Use of Women Police
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Inclusiveness : Provisions for Disabled
• Ramps in all Polling Stations
• Use of Braille on EVMs and Ballot papers
• Allowing a companion for the infirm and disabled
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Inclusiveness : Others
• Use of Symbols on the ballot for illiterate
• Use of Multi-language Electoral Roll
• Use of Multi-language Ballot Paper
• Transgender given the option to describe themselves
as “Others” in electoral rolls
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The Largest Election in World History!
•The size of 16th General Election to Lok Sabha
814.5 million voters
 18-19 years 2.88% ( 0.75% in 2009)
 Service Voters 13,28,621
 930,000 Polling Stations
 1.9 million Electronic Voting Machines
 11-12 m poll personnel to be deployed
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

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
Recognized National Parties
Recognized State Parties
Registered Parties
Candidates contested (2009).
-
6 (7)
47 (44)
1670 (1035)
? (8070)
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More Voters than every Continent!
Population
Electorate
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ntire Europe (50 Countries)
- 731m
449 m
•
ntire Africa (54 Countries)
- 922 m
566 m
•
orth America (41 Countries)
- 528 m
324 m
outh America (15 Countries)
- 382 m
235 m
&S. America (56 Countries)
- 910 m
560 m
•
•
•
ndia
- 1163 m 714 m
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The Complexities
• It’s not just size and magnitude. It is about:
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Dealing with Regional, Religious, Ethnic, Cultural and
Linguistic Diversities
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Democracy even at the remotest locations
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Separate polling station for a lone voter
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Trekking 45 km in snow to reach 37 voters
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Using elephants, camels, boats, cycles, helicopters, trains
to ferry polling teams
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Countrywide ‘vulnerability mapping’
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Tracking information from each polling station
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Electoral Administration Framework
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Election Commission of India – created by the Indian
Constitution. Fiercely independent.
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CEC and 2 ECs.
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Right to vote to all above 18 years of age.
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Conducting Elections of President, VP, Parliament
and State Legislatures.
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Delimitation of constituencies after each census.
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Election Machinery in States
• Chief Electoral Officers ( permanent).
- 35
• District Election Officers
- 601
• Returning Officers (Parliament)
- 543
• Returning Officers (Assembly)
- 4120
• Asstt. Returning Officers (Parliament)
- 4600
• Asstt. Returning Officers (Assembly)
- 10,000
• Electoral Registration Officers
- 4120
• Asstt. Electoral Registration Officers
- 4800
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Electoral Roll - the Foundation
• Health of ER ensured
• Gender, Age cohorts, Elector- population ratio
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Photo Electoral Rolls introduced.
Good deterrence against impersonation
Booth Level Officer (BLO) System introduced to
ensure fidelity of ERs at doorsteps.
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Preparation for Elections -
Mobilization of the Staff
• Drawn from various Central and State Government
departments - no private individual associated.
• Staff on deputation with the Commission.
• Staff subject to Commission’ disciplinary control.
• Staff mobilized & deployed by the CEO under
Commission’s instructions.
• Neutrality non negotiable.
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Preparation for Elections -
Training and Deployment of Staff
• Staff of various districts and
randomised to ensure fairness.
states
mixed/
• Deployment of Government employees
expenditure under check, enhances control.
keeps
• Staff given nominal honorarium.
• Training : Different Layers
• Tainted and aligned not associated.
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Preparation for Elections -
Procurement of Materials
• Procurement of EVMs by the Commission.
• Other materials by the CEOs and DEOs.
• Standard procurement procedures followed.
• Specifications of materials decided by
Commission in case of non standard items.
the
• Advance planning by the Commission, CEOs and
DEOs for procurement at their levels.
• Safety margins.
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Preparation for Elections -
Scheduling of Elections
• Considerations in scheduling:
•
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Weather
Agricultural cycles
Festivals
Exam schedules
Public holidays
Logistical requirements
Law & order
Movement of Central police forces
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Why PHASES?
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Preparation for Elections -
Checking Intimidation, violence & fraud
• Vulnerability Mapping : a response to threat and
intimidation of voters.
• 86,782 villages / hamlets identified as vulnerable.
• 373,886 persons identified as potential trouble makers.
• Preventive measures taken.
• Video-graphers (74,729) Digital cameras (40,599)
deployed: a great deterrent
• Hardly any complaint of threat and intimidation.
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COMET
(Communication for Election Tracking)
• Timely information is critical
• Direct connectivity with all PSs (landline telephones,
mobile phones, HF, VHF wireless networks, Satellite
phones and even runners) established and pre tested
• Proved an effective tool for tracking poll day events.
• Deterrent for trouble makers.
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EVMs – The Wonder Machine of
Indian Democracy
• Pilot -1982; all VS elections since 1998, full LS 2004
•
More than 1.4 million EVMs deployed in various
locations across the country.
•
EVMs now used universally in all Elections.
•
Voter Verifiable
introduced.
Paper
Audit
Trail
(VVPAT)
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Model Code of Conduct
• Minimum standards of behaviour
• Conduct of political parties / candidates
• Public meetings, Processions, Campaigning, Media
• Special checks on govt in power
• Conduct on poll day
• Handling of complaints
• Just added: Code about Manifestos
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Issues of Concern
• Role of Money Power
•
•
Expenditure monitoring complex and tough
“Paid News” and surrogate advertisements
• Criminalization of electoral politics
• Dependence on Central Police Force
•
Lack of faith in State Police
• Urban and Youth Apathy
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Measures to ensure enhanced participation
• Blaming the Pitch and the Umpire
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Rumours / social media
35
Use of Technology
1.Greater use of Technology
• A National Electoral Database for:
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•
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Better Citizen services and accessibility
Avoidance of duplicates in the database
Online registration
GIS for creation of polling stations
GPS for tracking of polling teams
Internet and mobile phones for Voter Education
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Voter Education: The Game Changer
Voter Education / SVEEP
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•
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National, State & district plans for electoral participation
Research on voters’ behaviour
Special focus on urban, young and women voters
National Voters Day
Partnership with schools/ colleges/ Civil Society and
Election Watch bodies
• Documentation/ Inventory of voter education activities/
materials
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Some Media Reflections : 2009
Hindustan Times 19.5.09
Indian Express 16.05.09
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Some Media Reflections (2)
•“It is truly the greatest show on Earth, an ode to a diverse
and democratic ethos….an inspiration to all the World”
- V Mitchell, New York Times, May 22, 2009
•Indian voters show the way forward
Financial Times, London, May 17, 2009
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India Elections 2009 Glimpses…
Photo Gallery - Elections 2009
Officials checking EVMs
and polling materials
A group of Villagers with EPI cards
Officials carrying EVMs and polling
materials
Electors going to exercise
their Franchise
Officials carrying EVMs
and polling materials
An Elector familiarizing himself
regarding
functioning of EVM
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Photo Gallery - Elections 2009
An elder on way to cast her
vote
Physically challenged
casting her vote
Electors waiting in Q
Indelible ink being marked on
elector’s finger
Prime Minister of India after
casting his vote
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THANK YOU
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