Zero tolerance: Election Commission warns of immediate repolling for irregularities

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Election Commission has issued strict instructions to ensure that voting in the upcoming elections is completely transparent and conducted without fear. The Commission warned that any attempts to influence voters or prevent them from exercising their franchise will result in immediate repolling at those booths.

In the past, repolling was typically reserved for grave situations such as fraudulent voting, booth capturing, or damage to voting machines. However, under these new directives, polling will be cancelled if voters are threatened, obstructed, or coerced into supporting a specific candidate. Even irregularities occurring near a polling station will now be considered sufficient grounds for repolling.

The Commission is also taking a serious stance against false propaganda that misleads the public on election day. It clarified that spreading fake news through social media or other channels to influence voting outcomes will lead to repolling. To support these measures, the webcasting system has been upgraded to more efficiently monitor visuals from every booth. Special vigilance instructions have also been issued to security officers and polling agents on-site.

Furthermore, strict disciplinary action will be taken against any officials who fail to maintain an environment where voters can cast their ballots freely. To ensure immediate accountability, the Election Commission has launched special helpline numbers and mobile apps for the real-time reporting of complaints.