Given the nature of the electoral arena in India, which is largely influenced by the ‘3 Ms’ (money, muscle and mafia power), PAC has been able to measure the impacts of its campaigns only to a limited extent. At times the message conveyed by CSOs tends to get lost in the deluge of propaganda by political parties. The money that the Centre spends on its electoral campaigns is but a tiny fraction of the millions of rupees spent by parties and other vested interests. In addition, caste and communal forces are exponentially stronger than civil society organisations, and to overcome these forces requires concerted efforts by groups across the country. For example, PAC spent considerable time, effort and resources in swaying the electorate to cast their vote during the 2004 parliamentary elections. Although many citizens wrote back congratulating the Centre and expressing their intention to go out and vote in that election, actual statistics showed that all over the country the voting percentage had, in fact, fallen. Nonetheless, PAC’s interventions have:

(1) Highlighted the importance of candidates’ disclosure of information: PAC’s campaigns were a precursor to the Supreme Court’s decision on mandatory disclosure of electoral information. Groups across the country have emulated this model, which has also sparked interest among civic groups in other developing nations such as Bangladesh. Watchdog groups like the Election Watch have emerged in recent years and done precisely what PAC had initiated in 1996: monitor and disseminate information on candidates’ backgrounds. The Election Watch, of which PAC is a member, concentrates on the criminal backgrounds of candidates. The recently enacted national right to information legislation has further reinforced the citizens’ right to such information.

(2) Facilitated informed choices: PAC’s informed choices campaigns have always concluded with exit polls to assess these campaigns’ impact. Exit poll results point to the fact that the electorate that received the information (through leaflets, newspaper articles, cable TV promotions, autorickshaw announcements, etc.) had used it in making their voting choice. The exit poll conducted in Mahadevpura municipality in October 2003 showed that 85 percent of respondents that received and read the leaflet were influenced in their voting choice. Those interviewed (including candidates) were appreciative of the campaign and suggested that PAC publicise it further in order to benefit a larger numbers of citizens.

(3) Underscored the importance of advocacy in electoral reforms: Since its first intervention in 1996, PAC has supplemented the efforts of the State Election Commission and the Election Commission of Karnataka by injecting greater transparency into electoral processes. Both agencies have, time and again, acted upon PAC’s recommendations for a more citizen-friendly and streamlined electoral system. Senior officials have interacted with PAC’s partner groups and taken these groups’ experiences into consideration for further improving the system, especially at the district and village levels. The EC and the BMP have, on several occasions, incorporated PAC’s suggestions for a more robust summary revision campaign and participatory EPIC programme. PAC’s advocacy has had implications for both policy and action across the country, as was evident in the campaign for the “Right to Information in Elections” organised by PAC during the elections held in K.R. Puram and Mahadevapura CMCs.

(4) Helped increase voter registration: Based on PAC’s suggestions, the BMP undertook various initiatives during the special summary revision of 2004, including encouraging online registration, designating post offices as registration centres, and setting up help desks at control rooms to provide information to citizens. PAC supplemented these efforts with a multi-media awareness campaign, effectively harnessing the power of radio, websites, cable TV and mass emails. In addition, street plays, information leaflets, and neighbourhood newspapers were used to further publicise the revision programme. As a result of these initiatives, the BMP and the Election Commission confirmed that the number of registrations increased three-fold in and around Bangalore as compared to the previous year.

(5) Helped increase voter awareness and participation: The deluge of calls received by the helplines points to the fact that citizens are eager to participate in the electoral process but are unaware of how to do so. Helplines have been flooded with calls from citizens keen to exercise their right to vote. Clear and patient replies from PAC staff have motivated callers to participate in the electoral process. In Bangalore, the turnout at Designated Photography Locations, where voters collect their ID card, doubled during the EPIC programme of 2002 as a result of the helpline installed by PAC.

(6) Disseminated information: In 2002, PAC published its ABC of Voting, A Voter's Guide as an educational tool to create awareness among voters on various electoral matters. The Voter's Guide, written in an FAQ format, is also available in other regional languages. Excerpts of the Guide have been disseminated as information leaflets during campaigns. During the summary revision of 2003, the newspaper Mid-day published all the relevant information from the Guide free of cost in Mumbai. Again, information leaflets were distributed free of cost in the suburbs of Mumbai by an agency called Just One on One.  

(7) Performed research and analysis: PAC's work on elections is not just about promoting citizen action and informed choices. It also involves meticulous research and the subsequent dissemination of its analysis. PAC's publication, Holding a Mirror to the New Lok sabha (2005), presents the findings of a systematic analysis of the data taken from the affidavits of 541 Members of Parliament (MPs) elected in 2004 to the Lok sabha (out of a total number of seats of 543). The affidavits were taken from the websites of the state election commissions. Their processing took some time, as the information had to be downloaded from various websites and translated from different languages. There were also some data gaps in the affidavits, as members did not disclose all the facts required of them. The publication has been widely disseminated to legislators across the country and has key policy implications.

(8) Catalysed a change in attitude on the part of officials: Senior officials in the State Election Commission and the Election Commission of India are now eager and willing to work with PAC and act upon its recommendations. There is also a visible change in the attitude of BMP officials in charge of the voters’ list revision process. During the revision of 2003, PAC staff made random calls to ascertain the efficacy of help desks set up by the BMP. It was observed that throughout the revision, officials were extremely helpful over the phone, guiding citizens to the concerned office/polling booth nearest to them and patiently addressing queries. It was also observed that officials were present in all offices on the last Sunday of the revision (during its special drive). This indicated a sea change in the attitude of officials, and a former Deputy Commissioner of the BMP has publicly acknowledged PAC’s role in this welcome change.

(9)  Increased capacity of civil society organisations: Before PAC’s electoral interventions, CSOs were unwilling to think beyond their regular concerns and participate in the larger realm of governance. The capacity building aspect in PAC’s campaigns has enabled resident associations and CSOs in smaller towns and cities, and even villages, to advocate for better governance. The Supreme Court verdict on mandatory disclosure of poll antecedents by candidates has further strengthened their resolve to make a positive impact on elections. The increased demand for training has resulted in the creation of a full-fledged training/capacity building component at PAC, with a specific focus on groups in remote districts of Karnataka. The demand for such training has also come from civil society groups in parts of Africa, where electoral reforms are becoming a major issue in civil society circles.