Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has defended India's electoral roll process as one of the most rigorous and transparent in the world, highlighting a practice in place since 1960. Addressing the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity in Sweden, Kumar emphasized that the electoral roll is statutorily shared with all recognized political parties annually, both during revision periods and before elections. This sharing includes provisions for claims, objections, and appeals, reinforcing the accuracy and integrity of the electoral process.
Kumar's statement comes amid recent allegations from opposition parties, including the Congress party, regarding potential manipulation of voter data. These parties have claimed that there has been "industrial scale rigging", and "fudging" of voter data to rig elections. The Election Commission has refuted these claims, dismissing them as absurd.
In his address, Kumar highlighted the robustness of India's voter list management system, noting that it allows for transparency and participation from various stakeholders. He emphasized that this mechanism plays a vital role in upholding electoral credibility across the country, year after year. He also reaffirmed the Election Commission of India's (ECI) commitment to capacity-building programs for Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of countries around the globe.
The CEC also drew attention to the extensive oversight during Lok Sabha polls by parties, candidates, observers, and the media, who act as concurrent auditors at various stages of the election process. This level of scrutiny ensures transparency and accountability throughout the entire electoral process. During general elections, the ECI mobilizes over 20 million personnel, including polling staff, police, observers, and political agents, making it the world's largest election management operation.
Kumar traced the evolution of Indian elections, noting how the system has adapted to increasing complexity while staying rooted in constitutional values. He highlighted the inclusivity of India's elections, from first-time voters to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, third-gender electors, and those in remote areas. He stressed that "leaving no voter behind" is a constitutional commitment, not merely a logistical goal.
The 2024 General Elections featured 743 political parties, comprising six national and 67 state parties, and over 20,000 candidates, with the process facilitated by 6.2 million Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The Indian electorate has grown significantly, from 173 million in 1951-52 to 979 million in 2024, with the number of polling stations increasing from 0.2 million to over 1.05 million during the same period.
On the sidelines of the conference, CEC Gyanesh Kumar held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Mexico, Indonesia, Mongolia, South Africa, Switzerland, Moldova, Lithuania, Mauritius, Germany, Croatia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. These engagements focused on voter participation, electoral technology, diaspora voting, and institutional capacity-building.
