ADR in a press statement said that on the lines of Parliamentary and Assembly elections, affidavits with nomination papers should also be taken from candidates contesting local body elections containing information about their criminal antecedents, assets and liabilities, and educational qualifications. And the scanned copy of these affidavits should be put up on the website within 24 hours of filing of the affidavit.

In March 2003, in ADR vs Union of India case, the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgement, made it mandatory for candidates contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to declare their criminal antecedents, assets and liabilities and educational qualifications.

In keeping with the spirit of the judgement, at the All India State Election Commissioners' (SEC) Conference held in July 2003, all the State Election Commissions had unanimously resolved to implement the disclosure rules in local body elections.

On 28th June 2011, Gujarat SEC had also issued an order in this regard. SECs of almost all the big states have also issued the similar orders. In the recently concluded UP Panchayat elections andMaharashtra Municipal body elections as well, ADR has conducted Election Watch or analysis of the background details of candidates for the benefit of the general public.