Rajiv Kumar's term ends; outgoing CEC flags urban apathy, bats for remote voting mechanisms in farewell speech

New Delhi: After conducting a full electoral cycle that included Lok elections to Parliament and Assemblies as well as that of President and Vice President in four-and-half-year, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will demit office on Tuesday, with a last minute pitch for remote voting for migrants and NRIs, biometric authentication of voters and use of AI.

Without mentioning petitions on EVMs and others, Kumar also urged the Supreme Court to schedule hearings related to electioneering “with due consideration to election period” while claiming that live reporting of hearing of long pending cases at critical junctures sometimes “fuel distrust that the petitioner intends to create”.

The tenure of Kumar, who joined the EC as a Commissioner on September 1, 2020 and elevated as the 25th CEC on 15 May, 2022, saw reforms like four qualifying dates for voter registration with advanced application facility for 17+ youngsters, myth versus reality register, delimitation of Assam and ensuring easy voting by polling officers, an EC statement said.

In his farewell address, Kumar highlighted that urban apathy remains a concern despite outreach and said remote voting mechanisms for migrants and enabling NRIs to vote must be prioritised for a “more inclusive” electoral engagement.

With nearly 30 crore voters not engaging in the electoral process due to reasons, including internal and external migration, he said, it is imperative to move forward with pilot programmes for Remote Voting Mechanisms.

“India’s growing aspirations for its rightful place in world order, require it to show deep commitment to the EC’s motto of 'no voter to be left behind'. It is the right time to enable our NRIs to vote from outside the country…The government should take a final decision swiftly to enfranchise those who contribute significantly to our nation from afar,” he said.

Batting for innovations like biometric authentication to prevent impersonation and multiple voting, Kumar said the future of elections will be “shaped by a complex and multifaceted blend” of technological advancements, voter engagement, influx of fake narratives and the balancing of transparency with privacy.

He said Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionise conduct of elections, but safeguards against cyber threats and disinformation are crucial.

The outgoing CEC wanted social media companies to introspect on their role in upholding free speech while ensuring it "does not become a casualty of their own algorithmic shortcomings", as the very freedom they champion should not be compromised by their failure to detect even the most obvious fake content.

On freebies, Kumar said the EC remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing concerns surrounding “unchecked freebies and overpromising” manifestos while acknowledging that the matter is currently sub judice and the Supreme Court would come up with a timely decision.

“It is imperative in the interim that political promises are backed by clear disclosures on their financial viability and their effect on the fiscal health of the state,” he said it has prescribed formats for parties to let voters know the feasibility of fulfilling the promise within the available State or Union financial space.

He also found fault with the rising trend of “misleading narratives” during peak polling or counting hours, calling it a “deliberate attempt to distort facts and mislead”voters.

“Casting doubt on outcomes after active and full participation in the process is undesirable. While the EC exercises constitutional restraint, such tactics are better avoided in the interest of a mature democracy,” he added.