In a significant move to strengthen electoral transparency and procedural integrity, the Election Commission of India (EC) on Monday (June 16, 2025) announced the decision to implement 100 percent webcasting in all polling stations across India. This marks a major upgrade from the current system, where webcasting is limited to 50 percent of polling stations and only “critical” booths.

The initiative will begin with the Bihar Assembly elections later this year, making the state the first in India to implement full-scale webcasting across all polling booths.

Webcasting for Enhanced Monitoring

The EC stated that the decision aims to ensure closer surveillance of voting-day procedures, detect potential irregularities, and strengthen public confidence in electoral processes.

According to a communication from the EC to all State Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), the webcasting setup is expected to cover all polling stations in areas with internet connectivity. For regions where connectivity is absent—referred to as shadow areas—the EC has directed election officials to use alternate arrangements such as videography or photography.

The EC emphasised:

“There shall be a webcasting monitoring control room at State level, District Level and Assembly Constituency (AC) Level, which shall be supervised and monitored by a Nodal Officer appointed at each level.”

Internal Use of Webcast Footage

The webcast data will be exclusively for internal consumption of the Election Commission. This is in line with a December 2024 amendment to Rule 93 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which restricted public inspection of certain documents, including CCTV footage, webcasting content, and video recordings submitted by candidates.

The amendment was made following concerns about privacy, security, and possible misuse of visual electoral material.

Under the revised rules, such content cannot be accessed or inspected by third parties. The decision was taken based on recommendations from the EC and subsequently implemented by the Union Law Ministry.

Closer Surveillance on Voting Day

The Election Commission made it clear that during voting day, every polling station will be monitored multiple times for an adequate duration. The objective is to observe every stage of polling—from booth preparation to the sealing of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The Commission's circular added:

“While monitoring the voting day activities, it shall be ensured that all polling stations are watched live multiple times during the day for an adequate period of time to closely observe the proceedings.”

To support this enhanced oversight mechanism:

• Adequate staff will be deployed at each control room,

• Every control room will be staffed with a dedicated Nodal Officer,

• These officers will oversee real-time surveillance, logging of anomalies, and follow-up actions.

A Step Towards Electoral Reform

The EC’s move towards 100% webcasting is part of a broader plan to improve electoral transparency, prevent voter intimidation, and monitor malpractices such as bogus voting or unofficial interference at booths.

Previously, webcasting was used selectively, covering 50 percent of polling stations, primarily those categorised as “sensitive” or “critical”, where electoral disputes or law-and-order issues were common.

This shift to blanket coverage:

• Standardises surveillance procedures,

• Removes the ambiguity over what qualifies as a "critical booth",

• Brings uniform monitoring to urban, rural, and remote areas.

The EC had tested increased webcasting coverage during the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, where web-based monitoring systems showed promising results in identifying irregular activities in real-time, prompting quick response from officials.

Webcasting Infrastructure and Implementation

To implement 100 percent webcasting efficiently, the EC plans to work closely with:

• Telecom companies to ensure mobile data coverage in remote areas,

• Private vendors and technical firms to supply necessary equipment and bandwidth,

• District electoral teams to set up control rooms and emergency technical backup.

The equipment to be installed includes:

• High-resolution web cameras at booths,

• Power backups or portable solar-powered devices for off-grid locations,

• Two-way communication systems for real-time guidance and intervention.

Each camera will stream footage to the respective control rooms, where staff will log incidents, issue warnings to errant polling staff, and report anomalies to returning officers.

Bihar as First Implementation Site

The choice of Bihar as the pilot state is notable. Bihar has seen electoral challenges in the past, including reports of booth capturing, proxy voting, and delayed responses to electoral misconduct.

By implementing 100 percent webcasting in the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections, the EC hopes to:

• Deter unlawful activities,

• Boost voter confidence in the election process,

• Provide a digital record of polling station proceedings.

Political observers view this as a high-stakes test case, as its success in Bihar may prompt permanent national adoption in future state and general elections.

Shadow Areas and Contingency Measures

Despite the focus on digitisation, the EC acknowledged that not all areas in India have reliable internet access. In such shadow zones, especially in tribal belts, mountainous regions, and border districts, the EC has directed polling officers to resort to:

• Traditional videography,

• Still photography,

• And manual documentation,
  to ensure that polling activity is recorded and reviewed post-facto.

These recordings will also be monitored from the control rooms to the extent possible and archived securely.

Legal Backing and Confidentiality Measures

The Election Commission’s decision stands on solid legal ground due to recent changes in electoral law. The December 2024 amendment to Rule 93 of the Conduct of Election Rules ensures that:

• Webcasting data remains under strict confidentiality,

• Public access is restricted to prevent propaganda use,

• Opposition parties or media cannot use such content out of context or for electoral gains.

The change has also been welcomed by civil society groups who previously raised alarms over web privacy, especially when images of voters or polling officials were being shared on digital platforms without consent.

Road Ahead

The Election Commission is likely to issue further guidelines on the technical and manpower requirements for webcasting, including:

• Protocols for equipment failure,

• Data retention policies,

• Monitoring benchmarks (e.g., minimum hours of live viewing),

• Voter privacy norms, especially in confined or sensitive booths.

Training sessions are also expected for:

• Booth-level officers (BLOs),

• Webcasting control room staff,

• Returning Officers and security personnel.

The Commission is also preparing to relaunch its public dashboard, which may in the future display non-sensitive real-time electoral data, such as voter turnout, complaint status, and polling booth status—excluding the webcast itself.

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