The Election Commission of India (ECI) has recently undertaken initiatives to guarantee wider participation in the electoral process. This endeavour is primarily targeted towards those electors, referred to as ‘absentee voters’, who are unable to visit polling booths in person. These include Persons with Disabilities (PwD), senior citizens, and individuals employed in critical services like railways, state transport, aviation, among others. The focus of these measures is twofold: setting up necessary infrastructure and establishing an appropriate legal framework.
The Legal Aspect: Amendments to Boost Participation
On 2nd September 2019, the Commission submitted a proposition to the Union Government (Ministry of Law and Justice). Following this, amendments were made to the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951 (RP Act), and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. These changes introduced a series of novel features:
An ‘absentee voter’ is a term newly minted and defined for elections. It refers to individuals belonging to certain categories notified under clause (c) of section 60 of the RP Act, 1951. This includes essential service workers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.
A ‘person with disability’ is identified using the disability flag present in the database for the electoral roll.
A ‘senior citizen’ is an elector classified as an absentee voter, who is above 80 years of age.
Senior citizens and PwD electors can participate either as absentee voters or as regular voters on the day of polling.
SVEEP: Making Voters Aware
The ECI is also making strides to improve awareness about these new provisions where potential electors can decide their voting methods. This is done under the scope of its flagship program, Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation program (SVEEP). SVEEP is dedicated towards voter education, raising voter awareness, and promoting voter literacy in India.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: Insight and Function
The Representation of the People Act, 1951, outlines the conduct of elections in India. It encompasses various aspects related to the electoral process:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Qualification and Disqualification | Applies to members of both Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures |
| Administrative Machinery | Governs the execution of elections |
| Registration of Political Parties | Enlists political parties |
| Conduct of Elections | Directs the process of carrying out elections |
| Election Disputes | Resolves conflicts related to elections |
| Corrupt Practices & Electoral Offences | Addresses malpractices and offences during elections |
| By-elections | Manages interim elections |
Engaging Absentee Voters: Steps Taken by the ECI
The ECI is committed to enabling wider (and easier) participation in the electoral process by every section of society, including those who are unable to visit polling booths. The focus is not only on creating the requisite infrastructure but also on providing a suitable legal framework to support these measures.
Last Modified: February 6, 2024