Colombo, September 2: India’s democratic achievements extend beyond merely conducting the world’s largest elections. They are rooted in ongoing efforts to make the electoral process more accessible, transparent, technology-driven, and participatory. A report by the Asian News Post, based in Sri Lanka, highlights that the evolution of India’s electoral democracy is a story of institutional innovation and adaptation on a massive scale.
According to the report, India’s electoral system has continuously evolved from the universal adult suffrage established at independence to the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT), digital voter services, webcasting, voter awareness initiatives, and international electoral cooperation. The core principle of this entire process has been that political power is derived from the votes of citizens.
The report states that when nearly a billion citizens are eligible to vote, democracy transcends constitutional theory, becoming a vast exercise in organization, public participation, and trust. India has tackled this challenge through a constitutional Election Commission and a rapidly technology-enabled electoral system.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections showcased the world’s largest democratic exercise, while reforms implemented in 2025 and 2026 further strengthened transparency, accessibility, and the use of technology in election management.
The Asian News Post noted that the Election Commission adopts a comprehensive transparency framework for voter registration, voting, counting, and post-election processes. Political parties and candidates are involved in various procedures, including verifying voter lists, inspecting EVMs and VVPATs, randomization of machines, commissioning, transportation, secure storage, and counting.
The report explains that the VVPAT technology accompanying EVMs displays a slip of the chosen candidate to the voter for about seven seconds before it automatically drops into a sealed box. This provides a physical audit trail alongside electronic voting.
Furthermore, the Election Commission has expanded its digital monitoring system. Citing the government’s National Voter’s Day 2026 documentation, the report states that 100% webcasting at polling stations has enhanced monitoring and transparency of activities on voting day.
In addition, digital systems have been developed for voter services, reporting voter turnout, and election management. Citizens can directly report violations of the electoral code through the C-Vigil app. This has made transparency an integral part of the electoral system, rather than just a post-election process.
The report also emphasizes that the strength of a democracy is not only measured by the number of voters but also by how easily every segment of society can participate in the electoral process. To this end, India’s electoral system places special emphasis on increasing participation among senior citizens, persons with disabilities, women, first-time young voters, and those living in remote areas.
– D.S.C.
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