Election Commission Launches ‘Know Your Candidate’ App [Current Affairs]

Ahead of announcing the dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar introduced a new mobile application called ‘Know Your Candidate’ (KYC). This app will enable voters to find out if any electoral candidate in their constituency has any criminal records.

Transparency for Voters

Kumar said that voters have the right to know about the criminal records of candidates from their constituencies, as well as their assets and liabilities. “The voters can also now check for themselves the assets and liabilities that candidates with criminal antecedents hold. All relevant information in this regard will be made available on this application,” he added.

Availability on Platforms

The KYC app has been made available for download on both Android and iOS platforms.

How the App Works

Explaining the new mobile application, the poll panel chief said, “We have come up with a new mobile application that will enable voters to find out if a candidate, who is bidding to represent them in the Lok Sabha, has a criminal background. The application is called ‘Know Your Candidate’ or ‘KYC’.”

Accountability for Parties

He added that the parties fielding such candidates will also have to explain the rationale behind the decision, while the nominees with a criminal past would also be required to bring all information in the public domain.

Mandatory Disclosures

“Candidates with a criminal record are required to publish or make public this information in newspapers on television thrice,” the poll panel chief added. “The parties giving tickets to such tainted candidates have to explain why they chose them over other, more deserving, claimants. They have to clearly state the basis of selection of a candidate with a criminal background,” Kumar said.

App Availability

The Know Your Candidate (KYC) app is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, as posted on the Election Commission’s website, along with a QR code to download the app.

Upcoming Elections

Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held on May 13, while Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will poll in a single phase on April 19. Bypolls for 26 Assembly seats will also be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.