TECHNOLOGY FOR VOTERS FROM ELECTION COMMISSION

With the announcement of the schedule for the imminent Lok Sabah polls, the entire nation is
gripped by election fever. However, apart from the dates and clarifications over electoral
procedure, the Election Commission in its communiqué has also spelt out the provision of some
online/mobile facilities for the voter.

For effective conduct of elections, the ECI has integrated use of telecommunications and
smart technology in various processes of elections. Here are a few help lines and apps that
will be useful as you get ready to cast your vote in the mammoth democratic exercise coming
up in a few weeks from now.

Helpline 1950

The Voter Helpline 1950 has been activated across the country to cater to voters’ queries.
Citizens can call this universal toll-free helpline number to connect directly to the District
Contact Centre. All districts & CEO Offices across all states/UTs have established Contact
Centres to provide Information and register feedback, suggestions and complaints.

Any user can call 1950 and obtain information about his Voter details in the electoral roll,
check for the status of his enrollment application and also lodge grievance. An SMS facility
has also been made available on this number to enable electors to verify their names on the
Electoral Roll.

Now, why is this important?

In the past, the Commission has received complaints that even some persons having EPIC
were denied the right to vote because their name was not found in the electoral rolls. In its
poll announcement, the Election Commission has clarified that only those persons are allowed
to vote at a Polling Station who are enrolled in the electoral roll for that Polling Station. EPIC
is only an identity document and does not confer the right of vote on any person, whose name
is not in the electoral roll. Also, the law does not allow inclusion of names in the electoral roll
after 3:00 PM on the last date of filing nominations, till the electoral process is complete.
You must, therefore, check that your name is in the electoral rolls and apply at the earliest if
it is not.

Facility of checking is also provided on the website of the National Voter’s Service Portal.
If the name of any person eligible to be enrolled is left out for some reason or has been wrongly
deleted, such a person should immediately fill application for inclusion of name in Form 6

The cVIGIL app

Consequent to the announcement of the Schedule for the General Election, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Guidance of Political Parties and Candidates comes into operation with immediate effect in the entire country. This will be applicable to all political parties and the Union and State Governments and UT Administrations.

The cVIGIL app will enable citizens to promptly report to election authorities on any violation
of Model Code of Conduct as well as any incident of intimidation or inducement, within minutes
of having witnessed them and without having to go to the office of the returning officer.

cVIGIL is a simple, Android-based mobile app available on Google Play,which is user-friendly and
easy to operate. All that one has to do is to simply click a picture or to take a video and briefly
describe the activity before uploading it on the cVIGIL mobile application. If the complainant desires
to remain anonymous he has the option to do so.

cVIGIL is a simple, Android-based mobile app available on Google Play here which is user-friendly
and easy to operate. All that one has to do is to simply click a picture or to take a video and briefly
describe the activity before uploading it on the cVIGIL mobile application. If the complainant
desires to remain anonymous he has the option to do so.

cVIGIL provides time-stamped evidentiary proof of the Model Code of Conduct / Expenditure
Violation, having live photo/video with auto location data.The District Control Room allocates
cVIGIL cases to the Flying Squads etc. through GIS based platform. Flying Squads investigate
the matter and the Returning Officer takes the decision. The status of cVIGIL is shared with the
cVIGIL complainant within 100 minutes.

The Voter Helpline Mobile app

This would help all citizens find their names in the electoral roll, submit online forms, check
the status of the application, file complaints and receive the replies on their mobile app. All forms,
results, candidate affidavit, press notes, Voter awareness and important instructions are available
through the mobile app. This app is available at the Google play store.

PwD app

Eligible citizens/ citizens in the category of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) can request for
new registration, change in address, change in particulars and mark themselves as PwD through
the use of the mobile application. By simply entering their contact details, the Booth Level
Officer is assigned to provide doorstep facility. PwDs can also request for a wheelchair during
polling. The app is available at Google Play store.

Samadhan portal

The Election Commission of India has designed a single integrated web portal for registering
and resolving citizen Information, suggestion, feedback and complaints (IFSC). The universal
portal is available for Election as well as non-election period. All the EROs, DEO, CEO and
ECI Officials are connected to the Samadhan Portal and the complaint lodged in Samadhan
directly connects to concerned official. There is an escalation \matrix configured into the system
and if within a time frame the matter is not addressed by ERO, it gets escalated to the next levels.