The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday marked a milestone in electoral reforms during the bye-elections to five Assembly Constituencies (ACs), with the successful rollout of several new initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and voter convenience.
The bye-polls were conducted in 24-Kadi (SC) and 87-Visavadar (Gujarat), 35-Nilambur (Kerala), 64-Ludhiana West (Punjab), and 80-Kaliganj (West Bengal), involving a total of 1,354 polling stations.
These elections were notable for implementing, for the first time, a mobile deposit facility, upgraded Voter Turnout Reporting (VTR), 100% webcasting, and individual mock poll training for all Presiding Officers.
Mobile Deposit Facility for Voters
Acknowledging the widespread use of mobile phones and the difficulties faced by voters—particularly senior citizens, women, and persons with disabilities (PwDs)—the ECI introduced a mobile deposit facility at all polling stations. Voters were able to safely deposit their mobile phones in designated pigeonhole boxes or jute bags at the entrance of polling booths. Volunteers were stationed at these points to assist voters, ensuring a smooth and secure experience.
Faster and Transparent Voter Turnout Reporting
In a major technological upgrade, the voter turnout sharing process was revamped. Presiding Officers were equipped with the new ECINET App, allowing them to directly enter voter turnout data every two hours on polling day. This real-time data was automatically aggregated at the constituency level and published at regular intervals, ensuring greater transparency and timeliness.
Most notably, the final voter turnout data was entered immediately after the close of polling, even before the Presiding Officers departed from the station. This marks a departure from the previous system, where final turnout figures were often delayed due to manual reporting and post-poll formalities. In areas with limited network connectivity, the app allowed offline data entry, which could be synced once connectivity was restored.
100% Webcasting Ensures Robust Monitoring
For the first time, webcasting was conducted at nearly 100% of polling stations, covering all but one station across the five constituencies. This allowed real-time monitoring of polling activities to ensure compliance with electoral procedures. Dedicated monitoring teams at the Returning Officer (RO), District Election Officer (DEO), and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) levels oversaw the proceedings and promptly addressed any issues.
Revival of Pre-Poll Electoral Roll Revision
Adding another milestone, the ECI also carried out a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the Electoral Rolls before the bye-polls—an exercise undertaken for the first time in nearly two decades in the context of bye-elections. This ensured up-to-date voter rolls and broader enfranchisement.