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India’s General Elections 2009

India’s General Elections 2009. Navin B. Chawla Chief Election Commissioner of India. G.E 2009. India just concluded its General Elections to the Lower House of the Parliament This was the 15 th General Elections to the Lok Sabha

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India’s General Elections 2009

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  1. India’s General Elections 2009 Navin B. ChawlaChief Election Commissioner of India

  2. G.E 2009 • India just concluded its General Elections to the Lower House of the Parliament • This was the 15th General Elections to the Lok Sabha • There were simultaneous elections to State Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim

  3. The Scale • The General Elections in the largest democracy in the world would mean • Enrolling 714 million voters • Setting up of 8,34,944 Polling Stations • Mobilizing 1.18 million Electronic Voting Machines • Direct use of 11 m personnel

  4. The Electorate Population Electorate • Entire Europe (50 Countries ) - 731 m 449 m • Entire Africa (54 Countries ) - 922 m 566 m • North America (41 Countries ) - 528 m 324 m • South America (15 Countries ) - 382 m 235 m • N&S. America (56 Countries ) - 910 m 560 m • India - 1,163 m 714 m • Commonwealth (52 countries ex - 900 m approx India)

  5. The Electorate

  6. The Complexities • It’s not just size and magnitude. It is about: • Democracy even at the remotest locations • Separate polling station for a lone voter • 12 men trekking 45 km in knee-deep snow to reach a polling stations with 37 voters

  7. The Complexities…..2 • Using elephants, camels, boats, cycles, helicopters, trains to ferry EVMs and polling teams • Countrywide ‘vulnerability mapping’ • Tracking information from each polling stations • Dealing with Regional, Religious, Ethnic, Cultural and Linguistic Diversities

  8. G.E 2009: The Electorate • 714 m voters enrolled • 43 million more than 2004 (2 X Population of Australia) • Photo Electoral Rolls introduced country-wide • The images of at least 82% of the electors (582 m) printed on the rolls - Good deterrence against impersonation • Booth Level Officer (BLO) System introduced to ensure fidelity of ERs at doorsteps.

  9. G.E.2009: The Ballot Field • Number of Parliamentary Constituencies: 543 • Total Candidates : 8070 • Male Candidates: 7514 • Female Candidates: 556 • % of Female Candidates: 6.9 • Most Candidates: 43 (Chennai South PC, Tamilnadu) • Least Candidates : 3 in (Nagaland PC in Nagaland)

  10. GE 2009: Polling Stations • 834,944 Polling Stations • Following Delimitation, PS locations rationalized • Aimed at voter convenience • Prevention of threat and intimidation of voters • More than 100,000 new PSs created • A PS in Gir forest only for one voter • PSs with two voters and three voters each • A PS at Auley Phu at 15,300 ft above MSL in Leh, Ladakh

  11. GE 2009: The Poll Personnel • Over 11 Million Personnel deployed • 4.69 m at Polling Stations • 4.5 m supervisory, intermediary and supportive • 2 million State / District Police and Home Guards • Over 1,00,000 CPF used on each poll day

  12. GE 2009: The Logistics • Huge increase in Candidates created logistical nightmare • 119 Special Trains / 3060 coaches for movement of CPF • 6800 security personnel were airlifted over-flying Bangladesh to avoid delay • 55 Helicopters used, 601 sorties to take polling staff/ EVM to remote locations and for evacuations in the Maoist Extremism infected areas

  13. Monitoring Mechanism • 2046 Observers monitored the campaign process, election expenditure by the candidates, poll day events, post-poll document verification and the counting process • 140,000 micro-observers deployed at sensitive PSs

  14. The New Strategies • Growing complexities, multi-cultural and plural sensitivities necessitate constant innovation: • Vulnerability Mapping • COMET

  15. Vulnerability Mapping • VM – A response to threat and intimidation of voters • 86,782 villages / hamlets identified as vulnerable • 373,886 persons identified as potential trouble makers • Preventive measures taken • Video-graphers : 74,729 • Digital cameras : 40,599 • Hardly any complaint of threat and intimidation

  16. COMET(Communication for Election Tracking) • Direct connectivity with all PSs (landline telephones, mobile phones, HF, VHF wireless networks, Sat phones and even runners) • Proved an effective tool for tracking poll day events • Deterrent for trouble makers

  17. Elections in Extremism Affected Areas • The Maoist extremism - a growing concern • Conducting elections in the Naxalite affected areas a security nightmare for poll staff and voters who defy the ‘boycott’ calls of Naxals • Most Naxal affected Constituencies taken up in Phase 1 • To ensure maximum area domination of areas heavily mined with IED • To prevent cross border movement of Naxals

  18. Elections in Extremism Affected Areas...2 • 79 constituencies: 118,604 polling stations • Relocation of polling stations wherever needed • Changed the poll time to suit the security requirement • Elaborate advance security measures in place • 19 deaths on poll day one

  19. Every Vote Counts: A Case Study • PS at Ralakung has 23 voters, at Phema 14 voters • Polling teams could not be airlifted by Air Force Helicopters due to adverse weather • On 12 May, two teams of six persons each set out on a historic journey

  20. Every Vote Counts: A Case Study…2 • The teams had to cross a pass called Ralakung La at 16500 ft and then descend to reach the PSs at Phema(13800 ft) and Ralakung (13500 ft) • The polling teams went with porters, sat phone • 48 hours of walking in knee-deep snow • The polling took place on 15th May • Both PSs recorded 100% voting

  21. Every Vote Counts: A Case Study…3 • Countrywide counting on May 16. The Commission had the following choices: • Postpone the entire counting in full constituency • Wait for the arrival of these two EVMs only if the winning margin is lesser than 37, otherwise declare the result • The Commission went for a different option • Declared one Presiding officer as ARO and authorized him to do the counting • Communicate outcome using sat phone • Thus, the 37 votes recorded on 15 May became the first votes to be counted in the country

  22. GE 2009 – Counting • Total Counting Halls : 4,260 • Total Counting Centres : 1,080 • Counting Staff deployed : 178,920 • Supervisory / data staff : 20,000 • Micro-observer at every table : 59,640 • Videography of proceedings of counting

  23. GE 2009 – Mishaps • Deaths – 37 • Violence – 23 • Accidents – 14 • Mine Blasts • Firing • EVMs looted / vandalised • Poll parties kidnapped • Train hijacked (Laldera, Jharkhand) demanding compensation for Naxal deaths

  24. Media Response The Times of India 15.05.09 Asian Age 14.05.09 Indian Express 16.05.09 Hindustan Times 19.5.09 Hindustan Times 19.05.09

  25. Media Response • “It is truly the greatest show on Earth, an ode to a diverse and democratic ethos….an inspiration to all the World” - V Mitchell, New York Times May 22, 2009 Indian voters show the way forward Financial Times, London, May 17, 2009 • Leading article: India confirms its status as a democratic beacon …Yet for this chaotic nation - with its almost unfathomable religious, linguistic and social diversity - not only to hold free and fair elections but also to deliver stable government is a truly remarkable achievement.  The Independent, London, May 19, 2009

  26. GE 2009 - Glimpses…

  27. Officials checking EVMs and polling materials Electors going to exercise their Franchise Officials carrying EVMs and polling materials A group of Villagers with EPI cardsOfficials carrying EVMs and polling materials An Elector familiarizing himself regarding functioning of EVM Photo Gallery - Elections 2009

  28. Photo Gallery - Elections 2009 Indelible ink being marked on elector’s finger An elder on way to cast her vote Electors waiting in Q Physically challenged casting her vote Prime Minister of India after casting his vote

  29. Thank You

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