In two months since the announcement of elections and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) becoming operational, the Suvidha platform received over 3.06 lakh permission requests from political parties and candidates. 75 per cent of those requests have been approved, around 40,000 were rejected, and around 30,000 were invalid or duplicates. The rest of the applications are under process. The Suvidha portal is a ‘Single Window System’ developed by ECI to streamline the nomination process and requests for permissions from political parties and candidates during the election period. All applications seeking permissions are mandatorily disposed of within 24 hours.
Features of the Suvidha App
Through the Suvidha portal, candidates, party representatives, candidates’ representatives, and election agents can make submissions online from anywhere at any time.
Permissions
Permissions from different departments are essential under various provisions of the Representations of People’s Act, Model Code of Conduct guidelines, and state laws related to property defacement, use of loudspeakers, etc. Permissions are also critical for expenditure monitoring, maintenance of law and order, and controlling traffic, e.g., during rallies, public meetings, etc.
The Suvidha platform caters to permissions for public meetings, organising rallies, opening temporary party offices, door-to-door canvassing, video vans, helicopters, obtaining vehicle permits, loudspeakers, and distributing pamphlets. Political parties or candidates can create profiles using their mobile numbers to submit and track permission requests. Requests can be made online in standard application forms or digitised by the concerned officers if submitted physically.
The Permission Cells, with the necessary infrastructure and staff, are set up to facilitate this process, which forwards applications to various nodal officers of other departments to obtain specific clearances from respective departments within 24 hours.
Candidates can monitor their application status and download approved permissions through the app or Suvidha portal. SMS updates are also sent at all steps. Applications for events or rallies must be submitted at least 48 hours before and, at most, within seven days.
Nominations
The Suvidha Application streamlines candidate nominations, which can be submitted online or offline. For online submissions, candidates register on the ECI Suvidha portal using a mobile number and OTP, which then auto-fetch relevant details via the EPIC number. They enter personal information in the nomination form and affidavit online, select three preferred dates for physical submission, make a security deposit online, enter challan details or choose cash.
The form must be printed, signed, and physically submitted to the Returning Officer within specified hours by the candidate himself or by his proposer between 11 AM and 3 PM to the Returning Officer on the selected date and place.
The Returning Officers process and verify the nominations and give appointments based on the preferences indicated by the candidates. They also verify online payments. Upon verification, officers generate and verify receipts, provide signed copies to candidates, and prepare a checklist per Commission instructions. The online nomination facility closes one day before the last nomination date. The citizen gets the candidate’s entered details and the affidavit submitted, including criminal antecedents, during the nomination on the Know Your Candidate (KYC), Saksham, and voter helpline apps.
Win-Win for All
Before the introduction of the technological platform, the system was cumbersome and inefficient. The traditional method required a physical visit to the returning officer’s office, which was time-consuming and inaccessible for many. It also led to delays, a lack of transparency, and complaints about prioritisation for issuing the permissions.
The Suvidha platform offers a uniform one-stop platform for all candidates, granting permissions on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure equal opportunity for all contesting candidates. A user-friendly interface and robust features simplify the process, ensuring all necessary permissions are acquired efficiently, conveniently and promptly. This means they can focus more on the campaign activities than get bogged down by procedural formalities.
This accessibility is particularly beneficial in remote and rural areas where physical access to offices is challenging. It further ensures transparency by offering real-time tracking of applications, status updates, timestamped submissions, and communication via SMS.
Additionally, by digitising various election-related processes, the Suvidha application has significantly reduced the administrative burden on election officials. Automating tasks such as nomination filing and permission granting has led to quicker and more efficient election management. Moreover, the permission data available on the portal serves as a valuable resource for scrutinising election expenditures, contributing to greater accountability and integrity in the electoral process.
Overall, the Suvidha platform embodies the commitment to fostering transparency, efficiency, and fairness in the electoral process, significantly transforming the interface between candidates and the administration.
As we move forward, the continued evolution of such digital initiatives will play a crucial role in shaping the future of elections in India.
Dr Ravi Mittal is a District Collector, Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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