The Election Commission of India received over 79,000 complaints through the EC’s cVigil app regarding violations of the Model Code of Conduct since the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Over 99% of the complaints have been resolved, with almost 89% of them being resolved within 100 minutes, according to the statement.
The election commission reported that illegal hoardings and banners accounted for over 58,500 complaints, which made up 73 percent of the total complaints. Distribution of money, gifts, and liquor was the subject of 1,400 complaints, whereas defacement of property generated 2,454 complaints.
According to the poll panel, 535 complaints regarding the display of firearms and intimidation were received out of which 529 have been resolved. Moreover, 1,000 complaints reported were for campaigning beyond the prohibited period, including the use of speakers beyond the permitted time.
cVIGIL is a mobile app that enables citizens to report instances of political misconduct. According to the poll panel, cVIGIL has proven to be a powerful tool, making notable progress in enhancing electoral oversight and minimizing campaign chaos.
The EC states that the system is simple to use and navigate, enabling citizens to connect with district control rooms, returning officers, and flying squad teams.
Upon filing their grievances, the individuals registering the complaints will have the option to report any infractions anonymously. Subsequently, they will be provided with a distinctive identification number, enabling them to monitor the progress of their complaint via their mobile device.
The app’s success is attributed to three key factors according to the EC. To begin with, users can capture audio, photos, or videos instantly. Secondly, there is a strict time constraint of 100 minutes for responding to complaints. Lastly, by activating the app’s camera to report a violation, cVigil automatically includes a geo-tagging feature, ensuring that flying squads can pinpoint the exact location of the reported violation.
Geo-tagging also allows the images captured by citizens to be used as evidence in a court of law. The app does not, however, allow photos or videos more than five minutes old to be uploaded, reportedly to prevent its misuse.
“The app is one amongst the armoury of apps built by the commission to leverage technology and facilitate voters and political parties.”, the EC said.
The 2024 general election schedule was declared by the ECI on March 16th, with voting scheduled to commence on April 19th in seven phases, and the counting of votes set for June 4th.
On March 16, the ECI published the schedule for the 2024 general election, which consists of seven phases of voting starting from April 19. The counting of votes is scheduled to occur on June 4.
