National Desk
18 February
Ludhiana
Sandeep Dhand
Outgoing Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar today emphasized the need for a solid mechanism to ensure transparency in polling station-wise voting trends. In his farewell speech before retirement, he also advocated granting Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) the right to vote from their locations, stating that now is the right time to implement such a system.
Kumar highlighted that with millions of overseas voters, a remote voting system requires a broad consensus. He stressed the importance of biometric verification at polling stations to enhance voter authentication and prevent fraud.
Discussing election transparency, Kumar noted that political parties’ expenditures are now being reported online and suggested that mandatory financial disclosures would improve financial accountability. He also called for greater clarity regarding pre-election promises, urging political parties to publicly declare the financial implications of their pledges. He emphasized that courts should expedite decisions on such matters.
Addressing digital concerns, Kumar warned that irregular social media algorithms pose a serious threat to elections worldwide. He urged immediate action to regulate and monitor such platforms to prevent misinformation and manipulation.
Lastly, he advised election management bodies to develop resilience against baseless, strategic, and time-bound criticisms, ensuring the integrity of electoral processes.