The Election Commission has sought suggestions from recognized national and state-level parties on spending limits for candidates contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The Commission has written to various parties asking them to send their views and suggestions about the election spending limit for candidates in future Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The commission asked various parties to send their views to the nodal officer of the committee constituted in October to amend the expenditure limit. There is a limit for candidates to spend in their election campaign, but there is no such restriction on political parties. The committee has been asked to consider revising the spending limit for candidates for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections given the increase in the number of voters and an increase in the spending inflation index.
The spending limit for the candidates was last revised in 2014. This limit was increased in 2018 for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. While announcing the formation of the committee in October, the Election Commission said that the spending limit was not increased in the last six years, while the number of voters increased from 83.4 crores to 91 crores in 2019 and now it is 92.1 crore. During this period, the spending inflation index increased from 220 to 280 in 2019 and now stands at 301. The committee is expected to submit its report next year.
Keeping in mind the difficulties in campaigning amid the coronavirus epidemic, the government had in October increased the existing spending limit by 10 percent based on the recommendations of the Election Commission. This increase was applicable in Bihar assembly elections and various by-elections.
Election Commission sought suggestions from parties on spending limit in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections
The Election Commission has sought suggestions from recognized national and state-level parties on spending limits for candidates contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The Commission has written to various parties asking them to send their views and suggestions about the election spending limit for candidates in future Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The commission asked various parties to send their views to the nodal officer of the committee constituted in October to amend the expenditure limit. There is a limit for candidates to spend in their election campaign, but there is no such restriction on political parties. The committee has been asked to consider revising the spending limit for candidates for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections given the increase in the number of voters and an increase in the spending inflation index.
The spending limit for the candidates was last revised in 2014. This limit was increased in 2018 for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. While announcing the formation of the committee in October, the Election Commission said that the spending limit was not increased in the last six years, while the number of voters increased from 83.4 crores to 91 crores in 2019 and now it is 92.1 crore. During this period, the spending inflation index increased from 220 to 280 in 2019 and now stands at 301. The committee is expected to submit its report next year.
Keeping in mind the difficulties in campaigning amid the coronavirus epidemic, the government had in October increased the existing spending limit by 10 percent based on the recommendations of the Election Commission. This increase was applicable in Bihar assembly elections and various by-elections.
Commission considering digital voter ID
The Election Commission is considering providing digital voter photo identity cards to voters. The aim is to ensure easy access to the identity card. However, no final decision has been taken in this regard. A senior official of the commission said that we have sought suggestions from the field officers, the chief electoral officers of the state, and the people. This is an idea that we are working on. Asked whether the digital identity card would mean that a voter would be able to keep it in his mobile phone through the app, the official said that once the decision is made, its details will be revealed.
The Election Commission is considering providing digital voter photo identity cards to voters. The aim is to ensure easy access to the identity card. However, no final decision has been taken in this regard. A senior official of the commission said that we have sought suggestions from the field officers, the chief electoral officers of the state, and the people. This is an idea that we are working on. Asked whether the digital identity card would mean that a voter would be able to keep it in his mobile phone through the app, the official said that once the decision is made, its details will be revealed.