Kohima, 12 April (MTNews): The Election Commission of India has directed all the States/UTs mandating the clear identification of printers and publishers on printed election-related material including hoardings, ensuring accountability and transparency in campaign communications. The decision was taken by the Commission consisting of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu after representations were received by the Commission stating that hoardings without the identity of the printer or publisher have been noticed in spaces controlled by Municipal authorities.
Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, prohibits the printing or publishing of election pamphlets, posters, placards, or banners without prominently displaying the name and address of the printer and publisher. This requirement of disclosing the identity of publishers serves as a cornerstone for regulating campaign financing and fixing of responsibility in case content is found unbecoming of the framework of Model Code of Conduct or the statutory provisions.
It may be recalled that CEC Rajiv Kumar has highlighted addressing the issue of Misinformation as one of the challenges along with Money and Muscle power, for a level playing field. With this directive, the Commission now has put the accountability on printers, publishers, licensees/contractors of urban local bodies renting out outdoor advertising space for the political advertisements published on outdoor media. This is in continuation of the ECI’s recent advisory to editors of all newspapers to be cautious while publishing political advertisements in newspapers.
The instructions, while allowing political ads for promotion of a party/candidate, prohibits any political advertisement given against a party or candidate. Any political ad released at the cost of exchequer regarding advertisement of a party/government in power is also prohibited. All political advertisements will be displayed only after certification/approval of the designated authority responsible for approving advertisement.
ECI reviews preparedness Lok Sabha polls
The Election Commission today reviewed preparedness for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls. The commission interacted with over 350 Election Observers across the country.
102 parliamentary constituencies in 21 states will go to polls on 19th of this month for which127 general, 67 police and 167 expenditure observers have been deployed to ensure free and fair voting in this phase.
The Election Commission has also initiated a home voting facility for the elderly and people with disabilities for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Under this initiative, voters over 85 years of age and persons with disabilities (PwDs) with 40 percent of benchmark disabilities can avail the optional home voting facility. The Election Commission today said that the voters in this category have already begun casting their votes for phases I and II of polling.
The ECI said that voting from home takes place with the involvement of a full contingent of polling staff and security personnel, with the secrecy of voting diligently maintained. Over 81 lakh voters aged above 85 and over 90 lakh PwD voters have registered across the country.
