Poll reforms: minister says consultations with stakeholders important

New Delhi: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday that comprehensive consultations with stakeholders, including political parties, are inevitable in implementing electoral reforms, PTI reported.

The Election Commission of India is planning to bring some electoral reforms, including remote voting technology, claimed to aid migrant voters to vote without going to their home states.

Addressing the 13th National Voters' Day, the minister said that there are multiple proposals as part of poll reforms with the government, and the convention is to consult political parties and, at times, seek the views of ordinary citizens before moving ahead with such reform proposals.

Consultations and discussions are "symbols" of a vibrant democracy. The changes implemented by the poll panel in election laws have added more than 1.5 crore new voters to the electoral role, the minister claimed.

According to him, the cut-off dates in place of the one earlier helped youngsters become eligible to vote once they turned 18. He praised EC's move to allow those above 17 years of age to register as voters in advance.

He said that he is in constant contact with the EC and has been conducting meetings with the body's officials over electoral reforms. The Legislative Department in the Union law ministry is the nodal agency for issues related to the poll panel, including election laws and related rules.

Speaking at the event in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, companion election commissioners and representatives of various political parties, the law minister mentioned some unsung heroes who have not been awarded but have made sacrifices while helping hold free and fair polls.