The Indian elections is the biggest democratic exercise globally with its scale and complexity. Millions of officials are deputed to undertake specific roles involving various activities of the election. From polling officials to security forces to counting personnel, these individuals comprise the machinery that ensures the smooth execution of elections. Data indicates that the number of resources involved in the conduct of elections has grown significantly over the years.
The Indian elections are the biggest democratic exercise globally with its scale and complexity. Managing elections in a country as vast and diverse as ours, and with over 960 million eligible voters spread across complex geographical regions, is a monumental task. Every phase of the electoral process presents its own set of challenges, from compiling electoral rolls to navigating the complex web of administrative structures, the scale and complexity are immense.
Yet, the successful conduct and the integrity of elections rely heavily on the actions of three key stakeholders: an impartial electoral administration, political parties and candidates, and the voters themselves. The previous editions in the series of stories on Indian elections, [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], focussed on key characteristics regarding political parties, and their contestants.
Now, further expanding the scope of the analysis and adding on to the latest editions on the administrative aspect of the conduct of elections, [6] and [7], we look at the machinery behind the impartial and safe conduct of elections.
Understanding the risks in Electoral Management
Being such an immense exercise, every aspect of the electoral process is mired with risks that could hamper the integrity of the election. Electoral risk management involves understanding the potential risks that could undermine the conduct, integrity, security, or credibility of an election and taking steps to address them.
Millions of officials are deputed to undertake specific roles involving various activities of the election. From polling officials to security forces to counting personnel, these individuals comprise the machinery that ensures the smooth execution of elections. Among them, security forces are crucial as they minimize the influence of coercive tactics and financial resources, creating a level playing field for both voters and political parties.
Force deployment as a tool to mitigate risks of coercion/fear.
A good law and order situation is a prerequisite for free, fair, and peaceful elections. Force deployment has been developed as a significant component in election administration, as seen by the strategic deployment of different available forces, notably the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Our explainer on how the security forces are deployed can be read here, along with the manual on force deployment.
The responsibility of the security forces spans from pre-poll preparations to safeguarding the voting process and continues until the declaration of results. This is unlike the deployment of other polling officials who assume duties for a smaller duration.
Human Resource requirement has grown in subsequent elections.
The growth in the number of eligible & registered voters in subsequent elections can have significant implications for election management. The number of electors in the 2014 General Elections was 834 million, which then rose to 912 million in the 2019 General Election. During the 2024 General Elections, this number is estimated to be approximately 969 million. This translated into a rise in the additional resources for the conduct of elections. The number of polling stations rose from 9.2 lakh to 10.3 lakh between 2014 and 2019 and is pegged to be at 10.48 lakhs in the 2024 elections.
Accordingly, the resource requirement in terms of the personnel required to conduct the elections grew from 10 million in 2014 to a projected 12 million in 2024.
Significant growth in the CAPF deployment, 2024 election sees 3400 companies deployed.
The Election Commission of India relies on a substantial number of polling officials and armed forces to facilitate smooth, peaceful, and unbiased elections. In terms of security provisions, the Election Commission usually engages the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). However, since the demand for CAPF often exceeds the available supply, additional police forces like State Armed Police, Home Guards, and District Police are frequently deployed to supplement security measures.
Analysis of data pertaining to CAPF deployment during general elections indicates a notable rise in their utilization over the years. In 2009, 850 companies of CAPF personnel were deployed, a figure which rose to 1349 in 2014 and further to 3126 in 2019. Projections suggest that in the ongoing 2024 elections, approximately 3400 companies of CAPF personnel are expected to be deployed across the seven phases of elections.
Need to streamline information dissemination on security forces deployment.
In addition to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), additional police forces from state agencies are often enlisted for the conduct of elections. The logistical challenge of moving troops, particularly during elections held across multiple phases, significantly impacts government expenditures. This logistical complexity, alongside concerns for national security are prime motivators in the demand for simultaneous elections.
However, there is a lack of consistent and transparent dissemination of data regarding security force deployments. While it’s understandable that the confidentiality of force deployment is crucial during elections, it’s imperative to make this data available in a standardized format post-election.
Currently, publications by the Election Commission of India present data in an unstructured and inconsistent manner, making it challenging to analyse the increasing need for security force deployment. It’s essential for the ECI to publish data on the state-wise and force-type-wise strength of forces deployed during General Elections, as well as elections to various state assemblies and councils, in order to enhance transparency and facilitate informed analysis. Since these details would be made available in the reports published much later after the conduct of elections, the safety & security concerns would also be taken care of.
