Ghost Voters: A Threat to Democracy
The authenticity of the voter list in any electoral system is fundamental to a functioning democracy. The recent controversy surrounding “Ghost Voters” in West Bengal has raised serious questions about the transparency and credibility of this crucial process. This article undertakes an in-depth examination of the issue, analyzing the structural deficiencies present within the electoral process, the role played by political parties, and the potential consequences that may arise.
In recent years, the issue of “Ghost Voters” has become a focal point of political debate in West Bengal. With 76 million voters in the state, political parties have brought to light instances of duplicate Electronic Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) and Demographically Similar Entries (DSEs). A cycle of accusations and counter-accusations has ensued, with political parties alleging that their rivals are manipulating the voter list. While this dispute has garnered more attention in West Bengal, the problem extends across India, raising grave concerns about the integrity of the electoral process nationwide.
Within the Indian electoral system, the responsibility for updating the voter list and correcting errors rests with the Election Commission of India (ECI). As part of this process, state government employees are deployed as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in each assembly constituency. EROs dispatch Booth Level Officers (BLOs), typically Anganwadi workers, to conduct physical verification of existing voters and remove the names of those who are deceased or have relocated.
However, this process is fraught with vulnerabilities. BLOs often operate under pressure from local political parties, which compromises fairness and transparency. Furthermore, conducting physical verification in remote and inaccessible areas can be challenging, increasing the likelihood of fraudulent voters remaining on the voter list.
Political parties also have the right to deploy party workers known as Block Level Agents (BLAs) to scrutinize the voter list and report any irregularities. However, BLAs often provide deliberately false information to serve their political interests, further increasing the potential for manipulation of the voter list.
Another significant challenge facing the Election Commission is Demographically Similar Entries (DSEs). DSEs occur when two genuine voters share the same name, father’s name, and even the same age on their EPIC. In such cases, it becomes difficult to differentiate between genuine and fraudulent voters, making it easier for fraudulent voters to remain on the voter list.
In addition, Photographically Similar Entries (PSEs) pose a serious problem. PSEs arise when the photographs of two different voters exhibit similarities, making it difficult to identify whether a voter is fraudulent.
In recent years, the Election Commission has launched campaigns to remove millions of fraudulent names from the voter list. In 2022, over 10 million duplicate entries were removed or corrected nationwide. However, this represents only a fraction of the problem. Numerous fraudulent voters still remain on the voter list, casting doubt on the credibility of the electoral process.
According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there has been an increase of over 400% in electoral offenses between 2014 and 2022. These offenses include incorporating fraudulent names into the voter list, manipulating voter identification cards, and causing disturbances at polling stations. The issue of “Ghost Voters” poses a grave threat to Indian democracy. The presence of fraudulent voters can impact election outcomes, thereby violating the mandate of the electorate. Furthermore, this issue diminishes voters’ trust in the electoral process, potentially leading to political instability and social unrest.
Ghost voters in the Indian electoral process are a serious concern that undermines the very foundations of democracy. To overcome this problem, the Election Commission, political parties and citizens must work together. By reforming the electoral process and ensuring transparency, accountability and fairness, we can strengthen Indian democracy and ensure that every vote is valid and that every voter is represented.