The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new software feature to identify and eliminate 'ghost voters' from electoral rolls, addressing the concerns raised by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the presence of fake voters. This development is aimed at enhancing the accuracy and integrity of India's electoral rolls by detecting multiple voter entries linked to the same EPIC number.

Addressing TMC's Concerns

The decision to introduce this feature comes in response to allegations by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) about duplicate voters in the electoral system. An official from the Election Commission mentioned that the chief electoral officers across all states have been informed about this decision. A formal letter was dispatched on Monday, informing state election authorities about the rollout of a new module designed to correct and flag instances of duplicate EPIC numbers.

Previously, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) at the state and district levels could not verify or identify similar EPIC numbers across different states, leading to inaccuracies in the voter list. However, this new software will empower EROs by providing better visibility and tools to detect discrepancies effectively.

Implementation Timeline

The implementation of this new module is already underway, with corrections in the voter list of West Bengal ordered to be completed by March 21, 2025. Dibyendu Das, the Acting Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, held a virtual meeting with senior officials from various districts on Monday to brief them about the new feature. He instructed the district authorities to ensure that all corrections are completed within the stipulated timeline.

Software Functionality and Impact

The newly introduced software will automatically detect and flag instances where multiple voter entries are associated with a single EPIC number, reducing the chances of voter duplication. The Election Commission's initiative aims to ensure a cleaner and more transparent electoral roll, which will ultimately lead to a more credible and fair election process in India.

This technological upgrade is expected to enhance the electoral process by:

• Identifying and removing duplicate or ghost voters.
• Strengthening the authenticity of electoral rolls.
• Empowering Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to address discrepancies effectively.

PM Modi's Praise for Election Commission

In a separate event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the neutral and independent functioning of the Election Commission of India. While speaking to podcaster Lex Fridman, PM Modi highlighted the massive scale and complexity of India's electoral process and emphasized that the Election Commission’s management of the world’s largest democratic exercise should be studied by global institutions.

PM Modi emphasized that India's electoral process, involving 980 million registered voters, is an exemplary case study for the world. He noted that during the 2024 general election, over 646 million voters exercised their franchise despite facing adverse weather conditions, with temperatures soaring beyond 40 degrees Celsius in several regions.

The Scale of India's Democratic Exercise

Referring to India's electoral scale, PM Modi pointed out that the number of registered voters in India is more than double the population of North America and exceeds the combined population of the European Union. He stressed that the high political awareness among Indian citizens contributes to the strength and resilience of India's democracy.

Global Recognition for India's Electoral System

PM Modi urged major universities worldwide to conduct case studies on how India's Election Commission manages such a massive electoral exercise with efficiency and neutrality. The Prime Minister acknowledged that India's electoral process is a bright story that highlights the success of democracy on such an enormous scale.

Conclusion: Strengthening Electoral Integrity

With the introduction of this new software feature, the Election Commission is taking a significant step toward strengthening electoral integrity in India. This proactive measure aims to eliminate ghost voters, enhance the credibility of electoral rolls, and ensure fair elections in the future. The government's commitment to a transparent electoral process and the global acknowledgment of India's electoral management further reinforces the robustness of Indian democracy.

The Election Commission's move to address TMC's concerns and correct discrepancies in voter rolls demonstrates a commitment to free and fair elections. With the corrections set to be completed soon and a continued focus on improving electoral systems, India is poised to maintain its reputation as the world's largest democracy with a transparent and efficient voting mechanism.

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