Technology empowering voters, making monitoring of electoral processes easier: MP’s Chief Electoral Officer

The Chief Electoral Officer of Madhya Pradesh, Anupam Rajan, in an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz, unfolds the intricacies of election-related procedures and monitoring mechanisms.

The integration of information technology has revolutionized the electoral landscape, offering unprecedented ease to voters, candidates, and the extensively deployed staff of the election commission. Rajan emphasizes the vital role of voters as sentinels of democracy, encouraging active participation to foster a more voter-friendly process. In this insightful interview, he delves into the Model Code of Conduct, the use of innovative apps, challenges in managing social media, and the Commission's vigilant efforts to ensure fair polls

As the electoral process starts, the Model Code of Conduct becomes very important for the political parties and candidates. In this context, please tell us how political parties and candidates respond to it.

The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect from the day the elections are announced. It comprises of a set of rules that informs candidates and parties of do’s and don’ts during the election process. It includes many things like how many vehicles one should travel with, how many people should be there while filing nomination, what is to be kept in mind during campaigning and election. If a candidate violates this by campaigning on the grounds of religion, by spreading animosity through actions or words, makes a comment on someone’s personal life or makes a baseless argument, the responsible individual or party will be penalised as per law.

The Election Commission is using a number of apps like the C-Vigil app, Suvidha app, or Queueless system and Encore system. How do these monitor political parties and how do these support the voters and the public?

As we see, the use of technology is increasing in our everyday life. The C-Vigil app is meant for the citizens. The backbone and biggest stakeholders in the process of democracy, the voters or citizens who form the foundation of democracy should themselves monitor whether the conduct expected from the political parties is being followed or not. Through the C-Vigil app, any person can lodge complaints through WhatsApp, message or video and complaints received are resolved within 100 minutes. If a citizen does not want to disclose their identity, they can lodge a complaint anonymously without revealing their identity. We use Geotag technology, the location of the complainer is mapped on it, our flying squad will reach there and immediately resolve it.

Suvidha app assists parties in respect of permissions. Many time parties require permission to hold meetings, carry vehicles, hire halls during campaigning, it ensures that the party in power may not have a monopoly. All this is based on time stamping so its allotment is done on the basis of first come first serve.

The Saksham app can help handicapped voters at the polling booth. The Commission is also providing an option of voting from their residence through Form 12D.

You asked about the Queueless app, which we are trying this time. Through this, the voter can fix a time slot. It is designed to reduce the waiting time during the election. There are many such apps through which we try to make the entire process simple, easy and free from any bias.

How helpful is the Encore system? Please elaborate.

Through the Encore system, information related to nomination documents, affidavits of pre-criminal incidents, voting percentage is available live to the public in real time, transparently and accurately. So the Encore system has a big role.

Social media is very much active right now. The challenge before the Election Commission is to stop and control the spread of fake news through social media during elections. How is the Commission handling this challenge?

We are monitoring all the social media platforms. Special cells have been formed in every district and at state level to monitor social media. If we feel any post is unwarranted or violates code of conduct or is spreading hatred between two communities or can cause social unrest, or can cause disturbance they are dealt via the Commission’s takedown agreements with various social media like Facebook, X or Instagram, we request them to remove such posts.

During voting and counting of votes, the Election Commission does web casting through the internet at its level. How much web casting is expected by the Commission this time during Madhya Pradesh elections?

The Commission’s instructions mention that web casting and live streaming should be done at least 50 per cent of the centres. We have around 65,000 polling centres, out of which we will get web casting done at minimum 50 per cent of the centres. If a polling centre or booth requires web casting based on its sensitivity and on the impact of the candidate contesting from the constituency, we will do. The effort is that through web casting, monitoring of polling stations can be done better and smoothly in real time from a distance.

It is often seen that the candidates while filing their nomination are not aware of their expenditure limit. If any star campaigner holds a meeting, mentions their name in any meeting or invites them to the dais then how expenses get added to their account?

The expenses of the candidate are added from the day they file their nomination. The total expenditure limit as we know for MLAs is Rs 40 lakh, the Commission has expenditure observers in every assembly constituency and they keep an eye on the expenditure. During the entire campaigning process, every candidate has to submit details of his election expenses three times in person or through an agent. Our team also keeps accounts of the expenses as stated by them, with shadow registers. Rate cards have been made for each district and they are verified. If the expenses reported to the Commission seem understated, the Commission issues a notice to the candidate, requiring the candidate to submit a reply explaining the expenses within 48 hours. There is a mechanism for verification.

The electoral process requires extensive workforce for conducting free and fair polls. What is your message and appeal to the voters, citizens and media of Madhya Pradesh?

First of all, I would like to say that be an aware, well-informed voter. We talked about C-Vigil, through it, if anyone spots violation of the code of conduct, then use it to lodge a complaint and we will take immediate action on it. Apart from this, I would like to request for ethical voting, this is a big right which we have got from democracy. What we call moral voting, citizens need to vote without being influenced by anything. Third and last thing, do vote, voting is on 17th November. All those, whose names are in the voter list, must vote. Voting is a fundamental right, we must use it to strengthen democracy. It is the most important part of the electoral process.

How does the commission monitor the cash transferred through ATM and other modes?

SOP's have been developed by consulting all the banks, state level and district level bankers committees, having adequate details of the transactions done through ATMs. This includes many documents, which are maintained by the ATM owners so that they do not face any problem at unnecessary checkpoints and it should also be kept in mind that unethical transactions do not take place under their cover.

Political parties have to get pre-certification done from the Commission before running advertisements, if they do not get it done then which category does it fall in?

Before publishing or displaying advertisements in any type of electronic media, it is mandatory for political parties to get pre-certification from the Commission, otherwise they will face action. In the case of print media, pre-certification is required within 48 hours. However, the MCC provisions apply. If violation is done through advertisement, actions will be taken.

Does the Commission also keep an eye on paid news?

The Commission keeps a close watch on the news published in the newspaper every day. If any news falls in the category of paid news, then action is taken through MCMCs, which are formed at the state and district levels.