Election Commission's cVIGIL app records 79000 violations resolving 99 pc cases

Hyderabad: The cVIGIL app by the Election Commission of India has emerged as a powerful tool for citizens to report violations of election codes during the ongoing General Elections 2024. Since the announcement of the elections, the app has received over 79,000 complaints, with an impressive 99% of cases resolved. Nearly 89% of these complaints were resolved within 100 minutes, highlighting the app's emphasis on speed and transparency.

A majority of the complaints, totalling more than 58,500 (73% of the total), were related to illegal hoardings and banners. Additionally, over 1400 complaints were filed concerning the distribution of money, gifts, and liquor. A smaller percentage, about 3% (2454 complaints), focused on the defacement of property. Notably, out of 535 complaints regarding the display of firearms and intimidation, 529 have already been addressed. There were also 1000 reported cases of campaigning beyond the permitted period, including the use of speakers outside of allowed hours.

The cVIGIL app represents a significant step forward in monitoring elections and reducing campaign clutter. During the announcement of General Elections 2024, Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and utilize the app to report any violations of the model code of conduct and inducements to voters.

Designed to be user-friendly and easy to operate, cVIGIL connects vigilant citizens directly with the District Control Room, Returning Officer, and Flying Squads Teams. This means citizens can report instances of political misconduct within minutes without the need to physically visit the returning officer's office. Upon submitting a complaint through the app, the complainant receives a unique ID to track the progress of their complaint on their mobile device.

The cVIGIL app enables real-time audio, photos, or videos by users, a "100-minute" countdown for timely responses to complaints, and automatic geo-tagging when the user activates their camera within the app. This geo-tagging feature allows flying squads to pinpoint the exact location of reported violations, and the evidence provided by citizens can be used in legal proceedings. The public also has the option to report complaints anonymously.

cVIGIL is part of a suite of apps developed by the Election Commission to harness technology for the benefit of voters and political parties alike.