1. There have been numerous committees and reports on electoral reforms in India to reduce the influence of money and muscle power in politics and improve the expression of public will. Key issues addressed include criminalization of politics, financing of elections, and increasing transparency. 2. Proposed reforms include limits on campaign spending, disclosure of candidates' assets and liabilities, restricting campaign activities in the last 48 hours before voting, and preventing government misuse to influence elections. 3. In the US, recent state laws have imposed new voting restrictions like strict photo ID requirements and limits on voter registration drives. However, these laws disproportionately impact certain groups and may undermine the fundamental right to vote. Advocacy groups are fighting these

1. Manthan topic: fairness at play
Introducing electoral reforms to reduce the influence of money and muscle
power in politics

2. Advances in Election Administration
Pro-Voter Reforms
Registration Reforms:
Online Voter Registration
Same Day/Election Day Voter Registration
Statewide Portability
Voting Reforms:
No Excuse Absentee Ballots
Early Voting, including non-traditional days and hours
New Restrictions Emerge
 Photo ID
Indiana (2005)
Georgia (2006)
Missouri (2006; successfully
challenged in state court)
Idaho (2010)
 Proof of Citizenship to Register
Arizona (2004; litigation ongoing)
Georgia (2009; not in effect)
 Restrictions on Third Party Voter
Registration
Florida (2005)
Electoral reform is change in electoral
systems to improve how public desire are
express in election results

3. 1. Strict Photo ID bills:
Current unexpired, showing expiration date
Issued by the state or India government
Driver’s license or non-driver’s ID issued by DMV
.Student ID sometimes allowed
.ID from other state sometimes allowed
.India naturalization documents sometimes allowed
.Tribal ID sometimes allowed
.Exemptions, safety net for voters without qualifying ID
2. Proof of Citizenship to Register:
Documentary proof
Driver’s license or non-driver’s ID if it indicates proof of citizenship was supplied to get the ID
Indian birth certificate
Indian passport
Indian naturalization documents
Some tribal IDs, etc.
3. Ending Election Day/Same Day Registration
4. Shortening Early Voting and Changing Absentee Rules
5. Restrictions on Third Party Voter Registration Groups
The Whole Package

4. What ID bills could include
 ID issued by other states
 Student ID
 Employee ID
 Tribal ID
 Generally recognizable photo ID
 Non-photo ID (utility bill, government document, paycheck, etc.)
 Exemptions
 Non-photo ID safety net
Impacted Groups
1. Compared to 11% average without current government-issued photo ID
2. Urban dwellers
3. voters with disabilities
4. out of state students
5. movers
Photo ID: Myth vs. Fact
1. Myth: Everyone has a photo ID, it’s no big deal.
2. Fact: A 2006 national survey by the Brennan Center found that11% of voting age citizens don’t have
current government-issued photo ID

5. Myth vs. Fact
• Myth: It’s the same as having to show an ID to buy alcohol, cash a check, or board a plane.
• Fact: Voting is a fundamental right that shouldn’t be burdened. [And you don’t need photo ID to fly
somewhere]
• Myth: Everyone can get a free photo ID anyway.
• Fact: There are practical barriers, as well as underlying financial costs involved in getting an ID.
Impact:
Practical Hurdles :
Access to Citizenship Documents
with Registration Application – copying, mailing, etc.
Ending EDR/SDR:
Repealed in ME* and OH*
Pending repeal/veto efforts
Vetoed in MT
Efforts in NH and NC
Access:
Reduces opportunities
Relied on by some voters more than others
Confusion:
Changing systems people are used to
Variance in voter education efforts

6. Restrictions on Third Party
Voter Registration
New restrictions passed in FL and TX
FL
Registration and reporting requirements
48 hour turnaround time
TX
Deputy and training requirement
New rules regarding who can register voters and
how they can be paid
Impact
 Third party registration reaches potential voters that
don’t intersect with registration opportunities as
much as others
 Low-income voters
 Minority groups
 Students
Impacted Groups
Minority Groups
Young People
Students and Non-Students
Mobile Voters
Low-Income Voters
Disabled Voters
Elderly Voters

7. 1.The topic of electoral reforms has been taken up by numerous
government committees in the recent past, including but not
limited to:
• Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms (1990)
• Vohra Committee Report (1993)
• Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections (1998)
• Law Commission Report on Reform of the Electoral Laws (1999)
• National Commission to Review the Working of
the Constitution (2001)
• Election Commission of India – Proposed Electoral Reforms
(2004)
• Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008)
Remedial steps
•Criminalisation of Politics:
•Most recent Committee reports on
electoral reforms have almost
universally acknowledged the
criminalisation of our political system
at both national and state levels and
across party lines
Financing of Elections:
It is widely believed that in many
cases successfully contesting an
election costs a significant amount
of money that is often much
greater than the prescribed limits.
1. Official limits on campaign
expenditure
2. Disclosure audit of assets and
liabilities of candidates
3. Curbing the cost of
campaigning
4. State Funding of Elections

8. Fighting Back
Exciting Citizen Efforts – ME and OH
Ongoing legislative battles and coalition work
Get ID projects
Voter education projects
Fighting Back – Nonprofit Style:
Advocacy:
More legislative fights to come
Local decisions and implementation matter
Empower clients for advocacy work
Collect personal impact stories
Legislative fights
Litigation
 Client/Constituent Education
 New changes to rules
 But also basic voter information
 Registration deadline, absentee voting information, early voting
opportunities, ID requirements, etc.
 How
 Email blast
 Voter Info Center – waiting room, at community day/events
 Billing inserts
 As part of education efforts on issues of relevance for your organization

9. Provide registration opportunities
Remind movers to update registration information
Remind clients to check for new polling place
Even non-movers may confront changes due to
redistricting or precinct consolidation
Get ID projects
Get to the polls projects

10. Influence of money

11. 1. Irregularities in polling
2. Rigging through muscle power and intimidation
3. Proliferation of candidates
4. Measures for Election Commission
5. Restrictions on Government sponsored advertisements
6. Restriction on the number of seats which one may contest
7. Amendment of law to provide for filing of election petition even against
defeated candidates on the ground of corrupt practice
8. Restrictions on opinion polls
9. Prohibition of Campaign during the Last 48 Hours
10. Ban on transfer of officers likely to serve elections
11. False declaration in connection with elections to be an offence
12. Punishment for electoral offences to be enhanced
13. Restoring the cycle of biennial retirement in the Rajya Sabha/Legislative
Councils
14. Misuse of religion for electoral gain by political parties
15. Totalizer for counting of votes
16. Victimization of officers drafted for election duties
Conduct and better management
of elections

12. References :
1. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE GOVERNMENT
2. STATES MOVE TO RESTRICT VOTING:Ben Hovland, Senior Counsel Thursday, February 23, 2012