Page 16 - NIS English 16-31 Jan, 2026

COVER STORY

National Voters’ Day Special

Election

Commission has conducted
We will not allow a single 18 Lok Sabha and over 400

illegal immigrant to vote in Assembly elections
this country. This is our policy In the 75 years since its establishment, the Election
- Detect, Delete, remove their Commission has conducted 18 general elections,
names from the voter list, and numerous Rajya Sabha elections, over 400 assembly
elections, and 16 elections for the posts of President
Deport them. We will detect, and 17 for Vice-President. As per Article 324 of
delete, and deport through the the Constitution of India, the Election Commission
of India is responsible for preparing electoral
constitutional process. rolls and conducting all elections to Parliament
and the Legislature of each State, and to the
Amit Shah, Union Home Minister offices of President and Vice- President
329
of India. Articles 324 to
(During the discussion on electoral of the Constitution
reforms in the Lok Sabha) define the functions,
responsibilities,
structure, and powers
have a monopoly on governance. In a democracy, the of the Election
will of the people is supreme. The backbone of the Commission.
electoral process is informed voters. The journey of the
Election Commission of India began just one day before
India embarked on its journey as a democratic republic.
The Election Commission has consistently taken ap-
propriate measures to ensure the effectiveness of the
electoral process. By building a strong electoral system,
the Election Commission of India has set an example for
the entire world.
People around the world have fought hard to get the
right to vote. As a member of the Constituent Assembly,
the leading constitutional expert Alladi Krishnaswamy for women’s suffrage.
Iyer described adult suffrage as the cornerstone of the A country like the United States gained indepen-
success of a democratic system of government. In the dence in 1776, but it took 144 years to grant women
United States, which is a leading country among devel- the right to vote. In England, from where India adopted
oped nations and considered a paragon of democracy, the parliamentary system, women above 30 years of
the right to vote was obtained only after decades of age received the right to vote in 1918, and all women
struggle and unwavering courage and perseverance. were granted suffrage in 1928. In contrast, in India,
In Britain, too, women had to wage a long battle to women received the right to vote from the very first day.
gain the right to vote. But in independent India, from When the Constituent Assembly debate on this issue
the very beginning, all citizens aged 21 years or older was getting misdirected, Babasaheb Ambedkar said
were granted the right to vote. Later, the voting age that many countries would gain independence after
was reduced to 18 years. Without any discrimination India, and India should lead the way in giving universal
based on qualification, religion, race, or caste, all men suffrage. He said that if we grant suffrage to everyone
and women, rich or poor, have the right to vote, and and adopt the principle of one person, one vote, one
the value of every individual’s vote is considered equal. value, its impact would be felt worldwide. When Baba-
The inclusive nature of the Indian Constitution could be saheb said this in the Constituent Assembly, someone
understood from the perspective of global campaigns asked why women were being given the right to vote, as

14 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || January 16-31, 2026