‘National Declaration 2026’: EC, State poll panels move to align Panchayat, assembly election laws after 27 years | India News
New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC), which conducts elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, and the State Election Commissions (SEC), in charge of panchayat and municipal elections, on Wednesday reached a comprehensive agreement to work on harmonizing laws related to panchayat and municipal elections with those relevant to parliamentary and state elections. A ‘National Declaration 2026’ adopted at the National Round Table Conference of the EC and SEC here – held 27 years apart – emphasized their consensus that clean electoral rolls and transparent conduct of elections are the bedrock of democracy. The EC suggested that all SECs should create acceptable processes and legally effective frameworks “in the constitutional and national interest” to integrate electoral processes, including ECINET, EVMs, voter lists and sharing of training resources.All suggestions made by the SEC will be studied by a team of legal and technical officers headed by senior EC officials and submitted to the EC on a state/UT-wise basis within three months “for the best possible decision”.Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are conducted as per the provisions of the Representation of the People Act and Election Rules, Panchayat and Municipal elections are held as per the laws and rules framed by the relevant State/UT. Thus, the processes relating to the preparation of voter lists, conduct of elections and voting procedures for parliamentary / assembly elections may differ from those used in panchayat and urban body polls within the same state/UT, even though the pool of officers employed by the state/UT is common. “The harmonization of legal frameworks will ensure logistical ease and clean voter rolls,” an officer told TOI. Sources said the SEC of BJP-ruled states/UTs unanimously endorsed the proposal on Wednesday. Addressing the SEC conference, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar called for institutional coordination between EC and SECs within their respective constitutional mandates. He advocates an integrated approach to voter roll management, adoption of technology and sharing of best practices to enhance the efficiency of the electoral process.
