The Election Commission of India

by

<–2/”>a >The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India.It was established on 25 January 1950 under ARTICLE 324 of the Constitution of India. Originally the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. The commission presently consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners, appointed by the president.

The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. They have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of The Supreme Court of India. The Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office, except on the grounds and in the manner on which the Supreme Court judges can be removed. However, since the other Election Commissioners and the Regional Election Commissioners work under the Chief Commissioner, they may be removed by the President on his recommendations.

The Commission conducts Elections in accordance with the constitutional provisions, supplemented by laws made by Parliament. The major laws include Representation of the People Act, 1950, which mainly deals with the preparation and revision of electoral rolls, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 which deals, in detail, with all aspects of conduct of elections and post election disputes.

Functions of The Election Commission of India

  • The Superintendence, Direction and Control of Election
  • Preparation of Electoral Rolls
  • To declare the date of Election
  • To reognise and derecognise Political Parties
  • To prepare Code Of Conduct for Political Parties
  • Control over the staff connected with Election
  • To conduct Election
  • To establish Polling Stations
  • Safety of Ballot Boxes and Counting
  • To declare ineligible for contesting Election
  • To order Re-poll
  • To issue Direction

Electoral reforms can be achieved by two types of measures: Preventive and Punitive

  • Preventive
    • Advertisements in the press to be issued to educate voters of their rights and responsibilities, besides highlighting ethical voting
    • Meetings with NGOs and citizens’ forums and appeal to political parties and candidates for self-restraint
  • Punitive
    • CEOs of the state would identify those constituencies which were prone to high expenditure and corrupt practices. Large number of assistant expenditure observers and more number of flying squads and surveillance teams would be posted in these constituencies
    • Expenditure observer to be appointed for each district
    • Each candidate to open a separate account for election expenditure
    • All election expenditure are to be incurred by issuing cheques
    • Banks would be required to report to the Commission any suspicious withdrawal of Money exceeding Rs 1 lakh
    • Set up a 24*7 call centre and complaint monitoring mechanism
    • Static surveillance teams would keep a watch on large quantities of cash or illicit liquor or any suspicious item being carried in the constituencies
    • District level media certification and monitoring committees would go into the entire process of media advertisements to check paid news

download (1),

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an independent constitutional body responsible for administering elections to the Parliament of India, the legislatures of the states and union territories of India, and the offices of the President and Vice President of India. The ECI was established on 25 January 1950, under the Constitution of India.

The ECI is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), who is assisted by two Election Commissioners. The CEC and the Election Commissioners are appointed by the President of India, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The ECI has its headquarters in New Delhi, and has offices in all the states and union territories of India.

The ECI is responsible for the following functions:

  • Conducting elections to the Parliament of India, the legislatures of the states and union territories of India, and the offices of the President and Vice President of India.
  • Registering political parties.
  • Allotment of symbols to political parties.
  • Delimitation of constituencies.
  • Conducting voter Education and awareness campaigns.
  • Ensuring free and fair elections.

The ECI has the following powers:

  • To issue directions to the government and the state governments in matters relating to elections.
  • To take necessary steps to ensure free and fair elections.
  • To deregister political parties.
  • To cancel elections.
  • To order re-polls.

The ECI has the following duties:

  • To conduct elections in a free and fair manner.
  • To ensure that all eligible voters are registered to vote.
  • To provide all necessary facilities to voters to cast their votes.
  • To ensure that the election process is free from any kind of malpractice or interference.
  • To announce the results of elections.

The ECI has the following responsibilities:

  • To ensure that the election process is conducted in a transparent and accountable manner.
  • To protect the rights of voters.
  • To uphold the democratic values of the country.
  • To promote electoral reforms.

The election process in India is a complex and multi-stage process. The following are the key stages in the election process:

  • Voter registration: The first step in the election process is voter registration. All eligible voters are required to register themselves to vote. The process of voter registration is carried out by the Election Commission of India.
  • Nomination process: The next step in the election process is the nomination process. Candidates who wish to contest elections have to file their nominations with the Election Commission of India. The nomination process is completed after the scrutiny of nominations and the withdrawal of candidatures.
  • Campaigning: The next step in the election process is campaigning. Candidates and their parties are allowed to campaign for votes. Campaigning is carried out through various means, such as rallies, public meetings, and door-to-door canvassing.
  • Voting: The next step in the election process is voting. On the day of the election, voters are required to cast their votes at the polling stations. Voting is conducted in a secret ballot.
  • Counting of votes: After the voting is over, the votes are counted. The results of the election are declared by the Election Commission of India.
  • Disputes: If there are any disputes regarding the election, they are resolved by the Election Commission of India.
  • Reforms: The Election Commission of India is constantly working to improve the electoral process. The ECI has introduced several reforms in the election process over the years.
  • Criticism: The Election Commission of India has been criticized for various reasons, such as delays in the election process, lack of transparency, and Corruption.
  • Website: The Election Commission of India has a website, which provides information about the election process, voter registration, and other related matters.
  • Contact information: The Election Commission of India can be contacted at the following address:

Election Commission of India
Room No. 401, Ashoka Road
New Delhi – 110 001
India

Phone: +91-11-23071956
Fax: +91-11-23071957

What is the Election Commission?

The Election Commission is an independent body that is responsible for conducting elections in India. It is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, who is assisted by two Election Commissioners.

What are the functions of the Election Commission?

The Election Commission is responsible for the following functions:

  • Conducting elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Legislative Councils.
  • Registering political parties.
  • Devising electoral rolls.
  • Conducting election campaigns.
  • Supervising the polling process.
  • Counting votes and declaring the results of elections.

How is the Election Commission appointed?

The Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

What is the term of office of the Election Commission?

The Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

What are the powers of the Election Commission?

The Election Commission has the following powers:

  • To issue directions to the government and to other authorities in connection with the conduct of elections.
  • To take disciplinary action against officers and employees of the Election Commission.
  • To order re-poll or countermanding of elections in case of any irregularities.
  • To deregister political parties.

What are the challenges faced by the Election Commission?

The Election Commission faces a number of challenges, including:

  • The large size of the electorate.
  • The diversity of the electorate.
  • The lack of awareness about electoral procedures.
  • The use of money and muscle power in elections.
  • The use of technology in elections.

How has the Election Commission addressed these challenges?

The Election Commission has taken a number of steps to address these challenges, including:

  • Using technology to improve the electoral process.
  • Increasing awareness about electoral procedures.
  • Taking action against those who use money and muscle power in elections.
  • Debarring political parties that indulge in malpractices.

What is the future of the Election Commission?

The Election Commission is an important institution in Indian Democracy. It has played a vital role in ensuring free and fair elections in India. The future of the Election Commission is bright, and it is expected to continue to play a key role in strengthening Indian democracy.

Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of the Election Commission of India:

  1. The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body that is responsible for conducting elections in India. True or False?
  2. The Election Commission of India is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner. True or False?
  3. The Election Commission of India has three members, including the Chief Election Commissioner. True or False?
  4. The Election Commission of India is responsible for the preparation of electoral rolls, the conduct of elections, and the declaration of results. True or False?
  5. The Election Commission of India is an independent body that is not subject to the control of the government. True or False?

Answers:
1. True
2. True
3. False. The Election Commission of India has five members, including the Chief Election Commissioner.
4. True
5. True

Here are some additional facts about the Election Commission of India:

  • The Election Commission of India was established in 1950.
  • The Election Commission of India is headquartered in New Delhi.
  • The Election Commission of India is responsible for conducting elections to the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, the Legislative Assemblies of the states, and the Legislative Councils of the states.
  • The Election Commission of India is also responsible for conducting elections to the Union Territories.
  • The Election Commission of India is an independent body that is not subject to the control of the government.
  • The Election Commission of India is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, who is assisted by two Election Commissioners.
  • The Election Commission of India has a number of powers, including the power to register political parties, the power to deregister political parties, the power to postpone elections, and the power to declare results.
  • The Election Commission of India is responsible for ensuring that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
  • The Election Commission of India is a highly respected institution in India.