Chief Election Commissioner Affirms Commitment to Free and Fair Elections, Focus on Voter Turnout in Rajasthan
01-10-2023 : The Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, reiterated the Election Commission’s unwavering commitment to conducting free and fair elections in Rajasthan. Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur, Kumar emphasized the Commission’s focus on increasing voter turnout and improving the ease of voting in the upcoming assembly elections. He clarified that there is no proposal to make voting mandatory for citizens.
Kumar outlined several key initiatives aimed at enhancing the electoral process. Candidates contesting elections will be required to disclose their criminal records through newspaper advertisements, promoting transparency. Political parties will also be obligated to provide reasons for selecting specific candidates.
One notable development is the introduction of the “vote from home” facility, which will be available to elderly voters and individuals with disabilities exceeding 40% during the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan.
Regarding mandatory voting, Kumar clarified that there is no such proposal currently under consideration by the Election Commission. Instead, the focus is on initiatives to increase voter turnout and simplify the voting process.
Stringent directives have been issued to law enforcement agencies to curb the transportation of liquor and cash, particularly in border areas adjacent to Haryana and Punjab.
Rajasthan has a significant voter base, with 5.25 crore eligible voters, including 2.73 crore males, 2.51 crore females, and 604 transgender individuals. The state also boasts 18,462 voters aged over 100 years, 11.8 lakh voters above the age of 80, and 21.9 lakh first-time voters.
The Election Commission’s three-day visit to the state included meetings with various state government officials, political party representatives, and other stakeholders. During these interactions, political parties stressed the importance of transparency in the electoral process, action against false affidavits and unauthorized caste-related data on social media, monitoring the distribution of freebies, cash, and liquor to voters, and deploying paramilitary personnel at critical polling booths. They also requested measures to prevent the issuance of backdated orders by governments once the Model Code of Conduct is in effect.
The Commission’s goal is to ensure that the elections are conducted fairly and transparently, with a target of achieving a 75% voter turnout at each polling station. In the 2018 assembly elections in Rajasthan, the overall voter turnout was recorded at 74.71%.
Kumar also highlighted the registration of 29,643 newlyweds through special camps and the management of polling stations by women, persons with disabilities, and newly recruited youth. Additionally, 50% of the 51,756 polling stations will have webcasting to monitor the electoral process closely.
