ECI Recommends Ban On Opinion And Exit Polls, New Limit On Poll Candidature: Report

ECI reportedly stated that there should be restrictions on conducting and broadcasting the results of opinion polls while seeking a new limit on poll candidature.

CEC Rajiv Kumar reportedly sent the recommendations to the Law Ministry soon after assuming charge as the poll body chief.

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has reportedly recommended a ban on opinion polls and exit polls ahead of elections while also suggesting restricting the seats from which a candidate can contest to just one. This comes as the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeks an amendment of Section 33(7) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 restricting the number of seats a poll candidate can contest from. Currently, the Act allows a person to contest elections from up to two constituencies.

According to a report by The Indian Express, CEC Rajiv Kumar asked the Ministry of Law and Justice to issue notifications for banning opinion polls and exit polls as well as further limiting the seats from which a candidate can contest.

On exit polls and opinion polls, ECI reportedly stated that there should be restrictions on conducting and broadcasting the results of opinion polls which take place from the day of the first notification of an election till its completion in all its phases.

Other recommendations include the linking of Aadhaar numbers with voter IDs, permitting four qualifying dates for citizens to register as voters.

“The EC sent six key proposals to the Law Ministry. We have requested the government to notify the rules for linkage of Aadhaar to voter IDs and also for the four cut-off dates for eligible people to register as voters,” The Indian Express quoted an EC official as saying.

Rajya Sabha passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 by voice vote last year. The act enables the linking of electoral roll data with the Aadhaar system.

As per the IE report, the poll body has also sought powers to deregister political parties while seeking a modification of Form 24A to make compulsory the disclosure of all donations above Rs 2,000 instead of Rs 20,000.