Ahead of 2026 Assembly elections and by-elections, Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced “Know Your Candidate (KYC)” feature on the ECINet platform. This:
- Enables voters to access verified candidate information
- Aims to promote informed and transparent voting
- Part of ECI’s push towards digital electoral governance
About ECINet Platform
ECINet is a single unified digital platform developed by the Election Commission of India to streamline electoral services.
- Described as the world’s largest electoral service platform
- Integrates 40+ ECI apps and portals into one interface
- Designed for voters, election officials, political parties, and civil society
Key Features of ECINet
One-Stop Electoral Services
- Voter registration and electoral roll search
- Application tracking and grievance redressal
- Download e-EPIC (digital voter ID)
- Connect with officials and book calls with Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
Integration of Existing Apps
ECINet subsumes major applications such as:
- Voter Helpline App
- cVIGIL (Model Code violation reporting)
- Saksham (services for persons with disabilities)
- Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Voter Turnout App, KYC App
User-Friendly Interface
- Improved User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
- Single platform for all electoral-related activities
Legal Backing
The platform complies with:
- Constitution of India
- Representation of the People Acts, 1950 & 1951
- Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
- Conduct of Election Rules, 1961
Know Your Candidate (KYC) Module
ECI has urged citizens to use ECINet for better decision-making at the ballot box. The KYC feature allows voters to access comprehensive candidate details, including:
- Criminal antecedents
- Assets and liabilities
- Educational qualifications
- Verified social media accounts
Voters can also download the full affidavit (Form 26) submitted by candidates, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Objective: Promoting Informed Voting by:
- Empowering voters with accurate and verified information
- Strengthening electoral transparency
- Encouraging active citizen participation