Election Commission makes webcasting mandatory at all polling stations

The Election Commission on Monday directed the chief electoral officers of states and Union Territories to set up webcasts for all polling stations to ensure improved monitoring of polling procedures.

The new directive came ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar that are expected to be held in October or November. Earlier, the poll panel had mandated webcasting at minimum 50% of the polling stations and 100% webcasting of the stations identified as critical.

On Monday, the Election Commission said that it had issued instructions on the use of several “civil (non-force) measures” to keep a watch on the stages of the election, including webcasting on polling day, as an internal management tool to prevent vitiation of the process.