Issues for Debates on Electoral Reforms

The growth of a healthy democracy depends on fair electoral process. Though we have had elections and elected representatives regularly there is no doubt that there has always been a flawed electoral process, which increasingly alienated public-spirited citizens from the whole political and electoral process. There are issues which are to be addressed like preventing money power, muscle power, organized rigging, eliminating bogus votes and errors in electoral rolls etc. There are also issues which relate to the internal democracy in political parties, measures to limit campaign expenditure, issue of voters identity cards and integration of the electronic revolution in the electoral process.

>>>>Curbing Money Power<<<<

The expenditure involved in contesting elections is very heavy and much above the ceilings prescribed. There are complaints of money power being used for influencing voters, bribing officials and hiring muscle-men for impersonation and booth capturing.

The issues for debate are :

• Where should the required money come from? What can be the legitimate sources of the huge funds needed?
• Can the cost of elections be reduced? If so, what are the options and ways? Can use of technology help?
• Whether there should be a ceiling on expenditure on election incurred by the candidates? If almost all the candidates are constrained to file false returns of election expenses, what purpose does a ceiling serve?
• Whether the expenditure incurred on a candidate’s election by his friends, by the political party or by others should also be included while examining adherence to the ceiling?
• In case the present ceilings are to be continued, should they not be linked to the cost of living index so that they remain realistic?
• Should full disclosure of the sources of election funds and audit of receipt and expenditure not be made compulsory?
• Should company and individual donations not be encouraged and legalised with limits placed on the maximum permissible amounts and some tax rebates etc. allowed?

>>>>Criminalisation of Politics <<<<

Increasingly muscle and mafia power is being used by political parties and the candidates to win elections. Of late, there are persons with known criminal record who have themselves been contesting elections.

Issues for debate :

• What methods can be worked out for disqualifying candidates with criminal background?
• If there is danger of influential sections manipulating and misusing the methods involved, how to ensure that these do not affect the genuine political workers or weaker sections adversely?

>>>>Preventing misuse of official machinery<<<<

There are complaints of the ruling parties often abusing the Government machinery for political campaigning.

The questions for consideration and debate are :

• what effective steps can be taken to curb the misuse of Government transport and infrastructure for election campaigns?
• What ways can be devised to prevent large scale transfers of Government servants on the eve of elections with an eye on influencing the conduct and results of election?

>>>>Getting elected by minority of votes<<<<

Seventy to Eighty percent of all MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs are elected by minority of votes polled thereby eroding their representational character. There are elected legislators who got even less than 15% of the votes polled. Can they legitimately be called the representatives of the people? If not, would it be desirable to make it mandatory for a candidate to obtain a minimum of 50% plus of the votes polled to win an election by providing, if necessary, for a second round, the contest being between the two highest polling candidates of the 1^st round.

>>>>Internal Democracy of Political Parties<<<<

Political parties are an important institution in any democratic polity. Both the party or parties in power and those in opposition are essential to the functioning of a democratic government. It is for that very reason necessary that the parties themselves are wedded to democratic principles and are run democratically. There have been complaints that there is no internal democracy in most of our parties. The questions for consideration are :

• What measures can be taken to ensure internal democracy in political parties which can be regulated by law and monitored and supervised by statutory authorities?
• Can the practice of internal democracy by a political party be made verifiable by an external agency like the Election Commission?

>>>>Preventing Defections<<<<

The Anti-Defection Law has not been able to prevent defections. The present law leaves a lot of scope for group defections. This has resulted in extensive horse trading, political instability and splits being engineered in quest of ministerial offices and the like.

The question for consideration is what modifications are necessary in the Anti-Defection Law to make it more effective or should the Tenth Schedule be omitted?

>>>>The issues of the voter’s identity <<<<

What are the suitable and cost-effective means of establishing the identity of voter? Should voters’ identity cards not be made compulsory as early as feasible? Should we not go in for multi-purpose citizen’s ‘I’ cards? What other steps can be taken to ensure the correctness of electoral rolls and what other technological inputs may help?

>>>>Educating the masters<<<<

In a democracy, the real and ultimate masters are the people, the citizens. There is an increasing realization that little has been done to educate or orient the voters in their responsibilities.

The question for consideration and debate is what can be done to impart necessary awareness in citizens’ obligations as voters and participants in the democratic process and how can it be done on a wide scale as a movement?

While in our present situation making voting compulsory may not be a feasible or enforceable proposition, a scheme of incentives/disincentives like tax rebates, concessions in rations etc. and paid holiday linked to certificate of voting could be considered.

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