Page 21 - NIS English 16-31 Jan, 2026

COVER STORY

National Voters’ Day Special

Reforms Implemented by the Election Commission

In recent years, the Election Commission has implemented more than
30 institutional, administrative, and technical reforms to strengthen
democracy, enhance voter convenience, and ensure transparency in the
electoral process...

n A special intensive revision was conducted in Bihar n Changes in the design of the voter information
after 2 decades to ensure that no eligible voter is slip so that the voter's serial number and
left out and no ineligible person is included in the part number are more clearly visible. Colour
electoral roll. photographs of candidates on EVMs for better
n Voter services have been digitised through online identification and clarity.
platforms. Voters can now apply online for adding, n 808 registered but unrecognised political parties
deleting, or correcting their names. The process has were delisted in two phases for consistently failing
become easier and saves time. to comply with essential registration requirements.
n For the first time in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, n Standard photo identity cards were issued to
voters aged 85 years and above and persons with Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The honorarium of
disabilities were provided with the facility of voting BLOs was doubled, and the honorarium of BLO
from home. For this, polling officers were visiting supervisors, polling/counting personnel, CAPF,
their homes with ballot boxes. surveillance teams, and micro-observers was
n While postal ballot counting is usually completed increased.
before the counting of EVMs begins, the
Commission has now decided that at counting centres Election
where postal ballots are being counted, the second- Anecdotes
to-last round of EVM/VVPAT counting will only
be conducted after the completion of postal ballot Ballot Boxes Found
counting.
n Mobile phone deposit facilities at polling stations for Decorated with Flowers
the convenience of voters on polling day. A maximum in 1952
of 1,200 voters per polling station to reduce When the first general election was held
crowding. in India in 1952, some of the ballot boxes,
n The problem of multiple individuals having the same after the voting with ballot papers, were
EPIC number has been eliminated. found decorated with flowers and smeared
with vermilion. This shows that during this
election, people considered the ballot box
or ballot papers as objects of worship. In
National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year addition, many boxes contained various
on January 25th to commemorate the establish- items besides ballot papers, such as notes
wishing for success, pictures of film stars,
ment of the Election Commission. The Election coins, currency notes, etc.
Commission organises a ceremony on this day
with political parties of the country and foreign
representatives. In these ceremonies, foreign repre-
sentatives, in particular, have consistently praised
the Election Commission of India, its electoral
system, and the conduct of elections.