Booth Capturing

Booth Capturing is defined in Section 135A of the Representation of People Act, 1951

Booth Capturing

About Booth Capturing:

  • Booth-capturing, defined in Section135A of the RPA, includes all or any of the following activities by any person or persons:
    • Seizure of a polling station, affecting the conduct of elections;
    • Taking possession of a polling station, allowing only his or their supporters to vote;
    • Intimidating or threatening any elector and preventing him from going to the polling station;
    • Seizure of a counting place affecting the counting of votes;
    • Involvement of any person in government service in any of the above activities.
  • It is punishable for a term of not less than one year, which may extend to three years for lay people, and not less than three years, extending to five years for government servants.
  • In such cases the Election Commission of India, based on the material facts, may
    • Declare the poll at that polling station to be void and direct a fresh poll on a new date; or
    • Countermand the election in the constituency in case booth capturing has taken place in a large number of polling stations, or if it has affected the counting of votes.

Q1: What C-Vigil App?

C-Vigil App is a mobile application developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to enable citizens to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during elections.

Source: Expert Explains: What Election Commission can do if normal polling process is disrupted

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