The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi's recent allegations of "vote theft" and has deemed his statements "baseless" and "irresponsible". The EC has also expressed deep concern over threats directed towards election officials, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a fair and transparent electoral process despite such challenges.
Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had claimed to possess "open and shut" evidence of the Election Commission's involvement in facilitating vote theft for the BJP. He further stated that the poll body would have nowhere to hide once this evidence was revealed. These remarks were made in connection to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted in Bihar, with Gandhi suggesting that the Commission's actions were intended to benefit the ruling BJP. He also alluded to suspicions of poll irregularities in previous elections, including the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls in 2023, the Lok Sabha polls, and the Maharashtra assembly polls.
In response, the Election Commission dismissed Gandhi's allegations and urged its officials to disregard such "irresponsible statements". The EC emphasized its commitment to upholding democratic values and ensuring free and fair elections across the country. The poll body also stated that it has been ignoring such allegations that are being made on a daily basis. The Election Commission also pointed out that they had sent an email and letter to Gandhi in June, inviting him to discuss the voter roll issue, but he had not responded. The EC characterized Gandhi's behavior as making "wild allegations" and even threatening the EC and its staff, calling it "deplorable".
The rise in threats and harassment against election officials is a growing concern. These threats, often stemming from misinformation and baseless claims of election fraud, create a hostile environment for those administering elections. Many election officials are now implementing enhanced security measures, such as metal detectors, cameras, and protective fencing, to ensure the safety of their staff and the integrity of the electoral process. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has also created resources to help communities ensure the safety of election infrastructure and personnel.
Several states have enacted legislation to protect election officials, staff, and poll workers, including criminalizing intimidation and interference, allowing election workers to keep their addresses confidential, and criminalizing the publication of their personal information online. Training in de-escalation tactics and threat reporting is also being provided to election workers. The FBI also investigates individual instances, identifies trends, and shares information across the United States. Election officials can report all threats to their local FBI Election Crimes Coordinator (ECC).
