Ahmedabad, September 11 (Daily Kiran) : Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar underscored the importance of enhancing voter participation and transparency in the electoral process during a regional conference in Ahmedabad on September 11. The event, which gathered over 1,000 members of the Electoral Literacy Club (ELC), booth-level officers (BLOs), campus ambassadors, and other stakeholders, focused on the use of digital technology to promote electoral literacy and awareness.
Kumar pointed out that with more than 900 million voters, India stands as the world’s largest democracy. He noted that approximately 1.8 million personnel are involved in ensuring the success of the electoral process during Lok Sabha elections. “The entire process, from preparing the voter list to casting votes, is as clear, transparent, and fair as sunlight,” he stated.
He elaborated on the security and transparency measures implemented during elections, mentioning that over 1.1 million booth-level officers are responsible for compiling the voter list, with political parties also participating in the verification process. The presence of polling agents and counting agents during voting and counting, along with the verification process through Form 17C, further strengthens electoral transparency.
Kumar highlighted that India currently chairs the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, which includes 35 leading democratic nations, showcasing international recognition of India’s electoral system.
In a call to action for young voters, he emphasized that every citizen turning 18 should register on the voter list and exercise their voting rights. He encouraged ELC members to download the ECI Net app and assist their families and communities in the voter registration process.
Gujarat’s Chief Electoral Officer, Sandeep Sagale, noted that the ELC initiative, launched under the SVEEP program in 2018, aims to familiarize youth with democratic values and the electoral process. He mentioned that ELC 2.0 is being developed as an active, experience-based, and digital platform for school and college clubs throughout the year.
“Our goal is to empower young voters based on awareness and trust,” Sagale stated, adding that over 40 applications related to voter and election management have been integrated into the ECI Net platform.
The conference featured presentations on ELC 2.0, voter education, ECI Net, and the trust and transparency of Indian elections, along with a live demonstration of the voter registration, voting, and counting processes.
Bhavya Verma, the District Election Officer and Collector of Ahmedabad, remarked that the presentations and demonstrations would help make voter awareness programs more effective.
Several officials attended the event, including Mukesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher Education Department, Hiren Barot, District Development Officer of Dahod, and Rinkesh Patel, Joint Chief Electoral Officer.
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