Speech by The Chief Election Commissioner of India on Electoral Reforms and Voter Empowerment

Abstract

Periodic free and fair elections form the cornerstone of a democracy. The voter is the most important stakeholder in an election. Voting in an election is an expression of the will of the voter in choosing how the country will be run for the next five years. Empowerment of the voter has therefore been the focus of the Election Commission of India over the years. The Commission has started several innovative practices for this purpose. Certain things require a change in the law or rules and form an important part of the 'Electoral Reforms' proposals of the Commission. However the Commission has brought about several reforms for voter empowerment on its own by issuing executive instructions.