PAC has examined its various campaigns and has done a systematic study of their successes and failures, while also identifying certain limitations and risks encountered over the years. 

• Difficulty in scaling up: Given the magnitude of caste/communal/money/muscle/mafia power, scaling up is an uphill task and civil society efforts are but a drop in the ocean. At times the message conveyed by CSOs is overshadowed by the enormous propaganda taken up by political parties during elections.  These forces are exponentially stronger than civil society organisations, and to overcome these forces requires concerted efforts by groups across the country.

• Limited resources: The resource–intensive nature of the campaigns, combined with funders’ hesitance to provide resources, presents a challenge. Much time and effort is required to convince these funders of the campaigns’ usefulness and integrity, as the results are not immediately visible, and their outcomes are not always tangible.

• The slow, inconclusive nature of the poll reform process: The public’s low rate of involvement is a major cause for the current state of affairs. Citizen apathy can be attributed to the fact that more often than not, politicians cease to act as representatives of the very people who elected them once they take office. Moreover, elections do not appeal to people as much as other more tangible issues, such as children’s rights, for example.

• Candidates’ suspicion of the information dissemination campaign: Elections in India have traditionally been fought on the basis of caste loyalties rather than informed choice. The right to information in elections is an extremely recent phenomenon that has the potential to change the very nature of politics. The attempt by NGOs to disseminate information (some of which could harm the prospects of a candidate, such as criminal antecedents) has not been welcomed by all. During the Mahadevpura elections in 2003, PAC staff and volunteers (including women) were physically harassed by supporters of a political party who mistook them for supporters of another political party launching a smear campaign against their candidate. It is imperative to inform candidates about the campaign beforehand and ensure their support.

• Printing of erroneous information: During its information dissemination campaigns, PAC has been extremely careful when transferring information from affidavits to leaflets and brochures. Knowing full well that a simple mistake could result in a serious backlash (elections in India are extremely volatile), PAC staff double- and triple-checks information on their leaflets. Until they are confident that partner groups can do the data transfer on its own, PAC staff do it for them. In spite of this, some lapses have occurred. In these cases, PAC immediately issues clarifications in the leading daily newspapers and withdraws distribution of materials in question. In spite of occasional threats of violence, PAC has continued undeterred with its information dissemination campaign.

• Citizens’ lack of faith in campaigns: At times, government systems are not geared to respond to the reforms initiated by PAC. As a result, citizens sometimes lose faith in the campaigns if they are not followed by immediate measures to correct the problems they reveal. This has happened in the case of Shree Sadguru Seva Samiti, a voluntary organisation that has worked with PAC on its electoral campaigns for the past five years. With PAC’s support, SSSS had painstakingly collected and submitted 860 applications for inclusion and 600 names for deletion from the voter’s name from the K.R. Puram area during the summary revision of October-November 2004. However, it came to light in August 2005 that the concerned authorities had “misplaced” these applications; as a result, none of the applicants could get their voter ID cards. Irate citizens accused SSSS of not having acted on the applications. PAC complained to the concerned authorities, which have taken action and suspended a negligent official. However, this case illustrates that citizens often lose faith in civil society groups when the government machinery does not respond accordingly. 

Although PAC has faced several constraints, including a lack of resources and a slow and non-inclusive poll reform process, it has made an effort to scale up and institutionalise its electoral programmes. This has been possible, to a large extent, because of the interest evinced by both civil society organisations as well as various governments. PAC has been able to move beyond Bangalore, and has developed linkages with groups across Karnataka, as well as in other states. Programmes were also replicated by organisations in other states, notably Lok Satta in Andhra Pradesh, Agni and YUVA in Maharashtra, and the Election Watch programme across the country. PAC’s Informed Choices was also adapted successfully in Bangladesh. As mentioned earlier, the Centre’s electoral component has also been recognised by the World Bank Institute as a noteworthy case study on social accountability initiatives in Asia.

PAC has been wary of various constraints and risks in its endeavour to scale-up its initiatives.  Thus far, PAC’s electoral campaigns have consciously steered clear of political parties and figures. However, in its future campaigns, PAC plans to involve politicians, recognising the possible benefits of such an alliance. PAC plans to do this in collaboration with the ‘new-age’ or ‘new-generation’ politicians, who have openly declared their commitment to a more transparent and accountable electoral process.