The Election Commission of India (ECI) recently held a two-day SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) Consultation Workshop. The workshop was yet another initiative in the ECI’s ongoing effort to empower citizens with voter education, encouraging active participation in India’s democratic processes. This article discusses in depth, the salient features of SVEEP, other related initiatives, and an overview of the Election Commission of India.
SVEEP: An Initiative for Voter Education
Launched in 2009, SVEEP is the ECI’s flagship program focused on voter education. The primary objective of this program is to foster an inclusive and participative democracy. To achieve this goal, SVEEP aims to motivate every eligible citizen to not only vote but also make an informed decision and choose ethically.
Other Related Initiatives by the ECI
In addition to SVEEP, the ECI has introduced several initiatives aimed at promoting fair and unbiased elections. One such initiative is the introduction of the NOTA (None of the Above) option. With NOTA, voters now have the option to reject all nominated candidates if they feel none are worthy of their vote.
The Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail is another initiative that enhances transparency in the voting process. This independent verification printer machine, attached to electronic voting machines, enables voters to confirm that their vote has been correctly registered for the intended candidate.
The National Voters’ Day, celebrated annually on 25th January since 2011, commemorates the formation of the ECI. This day is dedicated to encouraging more young voters to take part in the political process.
The ECI, in conjunction with the Court, has also worked towards the decriminalization of elections by ensuring that candidates declare their criminal records, irrespective of whether the cases are pending or not.
Lastly, the cVIGIL App provides time-stamped, evidence-based proof of the Model Code of Conduct/Expenditure Violation, complete with live photo/video and auto location data.
The Election Commission of India: An Overview
The ECI is an autonomous constitutional authority entrusted with the responsibility of administering Union and State election processes in India. This includes elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies, as well as the offices of the President and Vice President.
Part XV of the Indian constitution establishes a commission to supervise elections and outlines the powers, functions, tenure, eligibility, etc of the commission and its members in Articles 324 to 329.
Initially, the ECI comprised only one election commissioner. However, the Election Commissioner Amendment Act 1989 transformed it into a multi-member body. Currently, the ECI consists of one Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (ECs), all appointed by the President. They serve for a term of six years or until they reach the age of 65 years, whichever occurs first.