ECI said that with this facility, political parties will not be required to send their representatives to ECI/CEO offices to physically collect time vouchers during elections. (File photo/Shutterstock)
The Election Commission of India has amended the existing scheme for the use of state-owned electronic media by political parties. Election Commission said that this has been done by introducing the provision of issuing digital air time vouchers through information technology platform
Political parties in India will get digital time vouchers through an online platform Election Commission of India (ECI) announced this on Tuesday as the poll body amended the existing scheme for use of state-owned electronic media by these parties during elections. The push for digital vouchers comes days after the polling body launched a new website where parties would be able to file financial accounts including contributions, audited annual accounts and election expenditure details online.
“Allotment of time to political parties on All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) during elections will now be online,” the ECI said in a statement.
This has been done by introducing the provision of issuing digital time vouchers through Information Technology (IT) platform.
ECI said that with this facility, political parties will not be required to send their representatives to ECI/CEO offices to physically collect time vouchers during elections.
“This step reflects the commission’s commitment to leverage technology for the betterment of the electoral process and ease of all stakeholders,” the statement said.
In order to ensure equal access to government owned electronic media for campaigning during elections, each national and recognized state party of the respective state is allotted uniform base time equally on DD and AIR and the number of hours allotted to the parties A decision is made on whether to go into overtime. On the basis of their performance in the last election to the Legislative Assembly of the concerned State/Union Territory or in the last general election to the Lok Sabha, as the case may be.
The actual date and time during which the above telecast/broadcast will be carried out by the authorized representatives of any of the parties, as pre-fixed by Prasar Bharati Corporation in consultation with ECI and in the presence of the representatives of the political party.
The ECI said that the introduction of an IT-based platform for processing and distribution of time vouchers to entitled political parties allows for a more efficient and streamlined process, enhancing accessibility and ease of use.
