# Indian democracy faces election integrity questions at 80 2026-08-12T19:51:56+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets India marks 80 years of Independence with a mixed democratic record, according to Frontline. The country ranks 157th among 180 nations in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, and 1.5 crore names were deleted from voter lists in the past year. Assembly election results have also upset long-standing political patterns, raising questions about free and fair governance. The New Indian Express argues democracy has struck deeper roots despite periodic challenges. It notes that the Constitution integrated social and linguistic differences, and the 1967 elections saw non-Congress parties win several states, proving subnational political agency. However, the Emergency of 1975 remains the most severe test, with excesses leading to Indira Gandhi's 1977 defeat. ## Coverage - frontline.thehindu.com - newindianexpress.com Tags: democracy, elections, Frontline, Independence Day, press freedom, voter list Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/indian-democracy-at-80-press-freedom-157th-1-5-crore-voters-removed/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/indian-democracy-at-80-press-freedom-157th-1-5-crore-voters-removed/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.