Elections 2024: KYC App to help you identify candidates with criminal backgrounds

The Election Commission of India (ECI) recently announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections, which will be held in seven phases for 543 seats.

At a presser, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar introduced a new mobile application called 'Know your Candidate' (KYC).

This app is available on both Android and iOS platforms and provides information about the "Criminal Antecedents" status of candidates. 

The KYC app allows citizens to easily access information about candidates with or without criminal backgrounds, empowering them to make informed decisions. 

Kumar explained that voters can use the app to verify candidates' criminal records and financial status independently. This is crucial for voters to make well-informed choices during elections.

The KYC app enables voters to search for candidates by name and view information about any criminal antecedents they may have. It also displays the nature of offenses the candidate has been accused of. 

Additionally, Kumar emphasised the importance of citizen participation in maintaining a clean electoral system.

He urged citizens to use the cVigil app to report any instances of cash distribution, freebies offered in exchange for votes, or similar situations.

Using cVigil, voters can submit complaints by taking a picture or typing a text, and the authorities will respond within 100 minutes to resolve the issue.