NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI), under the leadership of newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, has initiated sweeping reforms to enhance electoral participation and streamline voter management. Alongside Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, the Commission is focusing on ensuring voter convenience, eliminating duplicate voter IDs, and improving the electoral process at every level, ECI said in a statement on Thursday.In a major move, the ECI has resolved to eliminate duplicate EPIC numbers nationwide within the next three months—an issue that has persisted for decades. This will be carried out in collaboration with UIDAI and technical experts. Additionally, voter lists will be updated regularly in coordination with birth and death registration authorities, ensuring accuracy and transparency.
Political Parties to Play a Key Role
Emphasizing stakeholder participation, the ECI has clarified that inclusions or deletions in voter lists will continue to follow the due process under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Political parties can file appeals regarding voter list modifications, ensuring a transparent system. The Commission noted that as of March 7, 2025, only 89 first appeals and one second appeal were filed after the completion of the Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise.
To enhance voter turnout and ensure a seamless voting experience, the Commission is focusing on:
- 100% enrollment of all eligible voters
- Reducing polling station congestion by ensuring no station has more than 1,200 voters
- Improving accessibility by locating polling stations within 2 km of voters’ residences
- Ensuring basic amenities at every polling station, including the remotest rural areas
- Combating urban apathy by setting up polling stations inside high-rise buildings and residential colonies
Capacity Building & Training
As part of a comprehensive training initiative, a two-day conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all States and Union Territories was held on March 4-5 in New Delhi. For the first time, District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) also participated.Key initiatives from the conference include:
Digital training kits in multiple languages for frontline election workers
Harmonized electoral handbooks with the latest updates
Animated training videos and an integrated digital dashboard for easy access to information
A specialized training module for Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
Enhanced Engagement with Political Parties
To ensure transparency and cooperation, CEC Gyanesh Kumar has directed all 36 CEOs, 788 DEOs, and 4,123 EROs to hold regular all-party meetings at the grassroots level. These meetings, aimed at resolving election-related concerns, will be completed pan-India by March 31, 2025.
Additionally, political parties have been invited to:
Receive ECI-led training on electoral laws, including voter list claims and objections
Submit suggestions on improving election processes by April 30, 2025
Meet the ECI leadership in Delhi for further discussions
A Roadmap for Transparent Elections
With these bold and far-reaching measures, the ECI aims to fortify India’s electoral process, ensuring maximum voter participation, transparency, and efficiency. These reforms underscore the Commission’s commitment to protecting the integrity of democracy while making voting a smoother experience for the nearly 100 crore electors across the country.
