Don't do this under the guise of survey: election commission instructions to political parties!

The election commission has directed all political parties to stop registering voters for post-election beneficiary-based schemes under the guise of enumeration. The election commission of india has taken serious cognizance of the activities of political parties and candidates seeking details of voters under various surveys under Section 123 (1) of the Representation of the people Act, 1951. "Some political parties and candidates have engaged in partisan efforts to register individuals for formal surveys and post-election beneficiary-based schemes," the election commission noted.

Taking cognizance of various incidents in the run-up to the 2024 general elections, the Commission has issued a notice to all national and state political parties to immediately cease and desist from any activities including registration of individuals for post-election beneficiary-based schemes through any advertisements.

The commission said that the act of inviting individual voters to register for post-election benefits may create the impression that there is a transactional relationship between the voter and the intended benefit and has the potential to create an arrangement to vote in a particular way.

While the commission agrees that general election promises are permissible, the measures mentioned in the table below appear to be discriminatory efforts rather than genuine surveys and inclusion of people in programs for political gain, the election commission said in the notification.The election commission has directed all district election Officers to take appropriate action against such advertisements under Section 127A of the Representation of the people Act 1951, Section 123 (1) of the Representation of the people Act 1951 and Section 171 (b) of the indian Penal Code.Further, “newspaper advertisements asking individual voters to make a mistake call on a cell phone or call a phone number to register their interests. Issuance of guarantee cards with attached form and pamphlets containing individual benefits containing details like name, age, address, mobile number, polling station number, block name and number of voters. Distribution of forms requesting voter details like name, family card number, address, telephone number, polling station number, bank account number, block name & number in the name of socio-economic survey of prospective beneficiaries to expand the ongoing government welfare scheme.

Distributing or disseminating political parties/candidates websites or web/mobile application requesting details like name, address, telephone number, polling station number, constituency name & number of voters (which may or may not contain an invitation to receive personal offers or express their voting intention). Issuance of registration form requesting voter's details like name, husband/father's name, contact number, address etc. along with newspaper advertisements or direct forms related to existing personal welfare schemes.” The election commission has advised all political parties to stop.