News
The Election Commission is considering revision of its recount rules so that slips generated by the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) devices can be matched with the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) count. As Chief Election Commissioner had received thousands of representations suggesting that changes be made to the recount rules to allow tallying with VVPAT slips.
The rules change is under the consideration.
To stop Bribing
- Recommendation from EC, Centre to disqualify for five years candidates listed in charge sheets for bribing voters.
- The move comes after the EC found out bribing voters in a Tamil Nadu byelection.
- The Election Commission recommend to the Law Ministry seeking changes in the Representation of the People Act to ensure that candidates are disqualified once they are charge-sheeted.
- Bribing electors by distributing cash and gifts in innovative forms like tokens, prepaid phone recharge coupons, newspaper subscription, milk tokens, money transfer in no-frill accounts in banks and even mobile wallet payment to mobile numbers.
Power of EC now
At present, the EC can countermand an election for use of muscle power. It can use its constitutional powers under Article 324 to countermand a poll over use of money power, but it wants the power to be vested to it under law. The logic is that it does not want to use its constitutional powers too frequently.
Source : The Hindu
GS II : Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies