“Collectors & District Magistrates of Districts, who are also designated as District Election Officers and Returning Officers, are key election officials, entrusted by law to lead the election machinery for effectually conducting Lok Sabha elections and to coordinate, supervise and monitor the entire election process…. They are also responsible for ensuring electoral integrity by maintaining healthy electoral roll; ensuring free access to voters to polling stations; conducting elections in fair, free, peaceful, non-partisan and transparent manner; providing ‘level playing field’ to all political parties and candidates and ensuring equal opportunity for all participants…. DEOs & ROs must also ensure freedom from any kind of fear or intimidation for everyone involved in the election process and should themselves display an ethical and impartial conduct during elections.”
Addressed Collectors & District Magistrates (designated as DEOs & ROs) from 15 States on the subject “Roles & Responsibilities of DEOs & ROs in Parliamentary Elections” during the ‘Certification Programme’ organised at the beautiful and large new campus (at Dwarka, New Delhi) of India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM) the training body of Election Commission of India.
