The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Thursday that its primary goals include achieving 100% enrollment of eligible citizens, facilitating ease of voting, and ensuring a positive voting experience. This declaration was made as the ECI showcased its initiatives following Gyanesh Kumar’s recent appointment as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

The commission outlined steps it has implemented to enhance election processes, stating that it has positioned its entire election framework, down to the Booth Level Officers (BLO), to actively promote voter participation and create a welcoming atmosphere at polling stations. The involvement of political parties as key stakeholders at the grassroots level was emphasized.

The ECI underscored the idea that the nearly 100 crore voters form the foundation of democracy and mentioned that technical discussions between UIDAI and its experts are set to commence shortly. Although voters are restricted to their designated polling booths, the Commission aims to eliminate duplicate entries in the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers nationwide within three months, addressing a longstanding issue. Continuous updates to the voter list will be reinforced in close collaboration with birth and death registries.

During discussions with political parties, the ECI clarified that any alterations to the draft electoral list must follow the appeals process established under the Representation of People Act, 1950. Without such appeals, the list created by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) stands valid. The ECI noted that as of January 6 to 10, only 89 first appeals and one second appeal were filed after the Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise.

Measures will be taken to ensure that no polling station accommodates more than 1,200 voters and that they are located within 2 km of the electorate. Basic facilities (AMF) will be provided even in the most remote rural polling stations. To combat urban disinterest and enhance voter engagement, polling stations will also be set up within high-rise buildings and residential complexes.

In a significant move toward the sustainable capacity building of nearly 1 crore election personnel, a conference for Chief Election Officers (CEOs) from all States and Union Territories was held in New Delhi on March 4 and 5, marking the first time District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) participated collectively.

This conference aimed to invigorate the entire election infrastructure, establishing a clear mapping of 28 stakeholders along with their responsibilities based on constitutional frameworks, electoral laws, and ECI guidelines. The ECI stated that electoral handbooks and manuals would be updated to reflect the latest changes.

Furthermore, to ensure comprehensive participation from political parties in all election-related processes, Kumar directed that regular all-party meetings and interactions be conducted by the 36 CEOs, 788 DEOs, and 4,123 EROs. These meetings are expected to address and resolve issues raised by political parties at the grassroots level, completing this initiative nationwide by March 31.

The ECI has also called for suggestions from all political parties on any electoral matters, with a submission deadline of April 30. Additionally, parties are invited to schedule meetings with the Commission in Delhi at their convenience.