Elections in India explained

India has a parliamentary system as defined by its constitution, with power distributed between the union government and the states. India's democracy is the largest democracy in the world.[1]

The President of India is the ceremonial head of state of the country and supreme commander-in-chief for all defense forces in India. However, it is the Prime Minister of India, who is the leader of the party or political alliance having a majority in the national elections to the Lok Sabha (Lower house of the Parliament). The Prime Minister is the leader of the legislative branch of the Government of India. The Prime Minister is the chief adviser to the President of India and the head of the Union Council of Ministers.

India is regionally divided into States (and Union Territories) and each State has a Governor who is the state's head, but the executive authority rests with the Chief Minister who is the leader of the party or political alliance that has won a majority in the regional elections otherwise known as State Assembly Elections that exercises executive powers in that State. The respective State's Chief Minister has executive powers within the State and works jointly with the Prime Minister of India or their ministers on matters that require both State and Central attention. Some Union Territories also elect an Assembly and have a territorial government and other (mainly smaller) Union Territories are governed by an administrator/lieutenant governor appointed by the President of India.

The President of India monitors the rule of law through their appointed governors in each State and on their recommendation can take over the executive powers from the Chief Minister of the State, temporarily when the elected representatives of the State government have failed to create a peaceful environment and has deteriorated into chaos. The President of India dissolves the existing State government if necessary, and a new election is conducted.

Election Commission of India

Election Commission of India

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous authority of India which is enacted under the provisions of the Constitution, responsible for monitoring and administering Union and State election processes in India. This body is responsible for ensuring elections are free and fair, without any bias.[2]

The ECI, established as a permanent Constitutional Body, is entrusted by the Constitution with the superintendence, direction, and control of the entire electoral process for Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President of India.

Election ensures the conduct of members pre-elections, during elections, and post-elections are as per the statutory legislation.

All election-related disputes are handled by the Election Commission. The Supreme Court of India has held that where the enacted laws are silent or make insufficient provisions to deal with a given situation in the conduct of elections, the Election Commission has the residuary powers under the Constitution to act as appropriate.The first chief election Commissioner was Sukumar Sen.

The elections for the President and Vice President of India, the Rajya Sabha (council of states) and Lok Sabha (house of the people), State Legislative Assemblies (including Union territories of jammu and kashmir,Delhi and Puducherry), and State Legislative Councils are conducted by the Election Commission of India.

State Election Commissions

The State Election Commission (SEC) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering elections to the 3rd tier of governance i.e. the Local Government, which includes the Panchayati Raj Institutions and the Urban Local Bodies. As per the constitutional provision, 'superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of Elections to Urban & Rural Local bodies vest in State Election Commission.

State Election Commission consists of a State Election Commissioner, who is appointed by the Governor for a fixed tenure of 5 years and cannot be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.

The elections to local self-government institutions, such as panchayats and municipalities, are conducted by the respective State Election Commissions (SECs).[3]

Types of elections

Elections in the Republic of India include elections for

Parliamentary general elections (Lok Sabha)

Members of Lok Sabha (House of the People) or the lower house of India's Parliament are elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of India, who crossed 18 years from a set of candidates who contest in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of India can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the Lok Sabha elections are called 'Member of Parliament' and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the President on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Lok Sabha Chambers of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi, on matters relating to the creation of new laws, removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of India. Elections take place once in 5 years to elect 543 members for the Lok Sabha (Lower house).[4]

Notes and References

  1. Richetta . Cécile . Harbers . Imke . van Wingerden . Enrike . 2023 . The subnational electoral coercion in India (SECI) data set, 1985–2015 . Electoral Studies . 85 . 10.1016/j.electstud.2023.102662 . 0261-3794. free .
  2. Web site: A Constitutional Body . Election Commission of India .
  3. Web site: Role of SEC- State Election Commission, Maharashtra . 2024-04-10 . mahasec.maharashtra.gov.in.
  4. Web site: Terms of the Houses. Election Commission of India . 19 February 2020.
  5. Web site: Lok Sabha Election Results 1951-2004. Election Commission of India. 5 April 2021.
  6. Web site: Lok Sabha Election Results 2009. Election Commission of India. 5 April 2021.
  7. Web site: General Election 2014 . Election Commission of India. 5 April 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210415030717/https://eci.gov.in/files/category/97-general-election-2014/ . Apr 15, 2021 .
  8. Web site: General Election 2019 (Including Vellore PC) . Election Commission of India. 5 April 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210724131155/https://eci.gov.in/files/category/1551-general-election-2019-including-vellore-pc/ . Jul 24, 2021 .
  9. Web site: Assembly elections 2022: 66% voter turnout in Himachal Pradesh, world's highest booth sees 100% polling | Himachal-Pradesh Election News . November 12, 2022 . .
  10. Web site: Assembly elections in 5 states explained in 4 charts. 9 October 2023 .
  11. Web site: 43. India/Tripura (1949-present) . University of Central Arkansas . 28 February 2022.
  12. Web site: Rajya Sabha Election 2017: Here Is How Members Are Elected To Upper House. NDTV.com. 29 April 2019.
  13. Web site: EC provides facility to voters above 80 years of age & Divyanga to vote from home . News On AIR - News Services Division . 13 November 2023 . 13 November 2023.
  14. Web site: Ayub . Jamal . Vote From Home: Madhya Pradesh Polling Stations Come To The Doorstep For Elderly & Disabled . The Times of India . 8 November 2023 . 13 November 2023.
  15. News: Kalia . Saumya . 23 March 2024 . All about the vote-from-home facility in the Lok Sabha elections | Explained . The Hindu.
  16. Web site: ECI walks the extra mile to reach at the doorstep of elderly and PwD voters . 2024-04-19 . pib.gov.in.
  17. EC Decides to use VVPAT System at Bye-Election in Nagaland . Press Information Bureau . 17 August 2013 . 18 August 2013.
  18. References:
  19. Web site: VVPAT, a revolutionary step in voting transparency. DNA . 27 April 2014 . 27 April 2014.
  20. News: Not many were aware of VVPAT, but were happy with verification. The Hindu. 23 November 2014. 18 April 2014.
  21. Web site: Safe distance. The Indian Express. 23 November 2014. 15 April 2014.
  22. News: As smooth as it gets, says city poll chief. The Times of India. 25 April 2014 . 23 November 2014.
  23. News: Ripon Buildings turns nerve centre of electoral activities in Chennai . The Times of India. 22 April 2014 . 13 January 2020.
  24. Web site: Voter's verifiable paper audit trail system to be introduced in Chennai Central constituency. The Times of India. 3 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140401160848/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Voters-verifiable-paper-audit-trail-system-to-be-introduced-in-Chennai-Central-constituency/articleshow/33025999.cms. 1 April 2014.
  25. Web site: EC announces Lok Sabha election dates: VVPATs, to be used in all polling stations, help bring more accuracy in voting. Firstpost. 10 March 2019 . 13 January 2020.
  26. News: What are EVMs, VVPAT and how safe they are . 6 December 2018 . The Times of India . 10 January 2019.
  27. News: Supreme Court: Count VVPAT slips of 5 booths in each assembly seat | India News . The Times of India. 9 April 2019 . 13 January 2020.
  28. Web site: Breaking: SC Directs ECI To Increase VVPAT Verification From One EVM To Five EVMs Per Constituency [Read Order]]. MEHAL. JAIN. 8 April 2019. www.livelaw.in. 13 January 2020.
  29. Web site: When the SC Says No for Software Audit Review of EVMs & VVPAT at Present. Moneylife NEWS & VIEWS. 13 January 2020.
  30. News: EVM-VVPAT pass test in Lok Sabha polls . Economic Times . 23 May 2019 . 5 June 2019.
  31. Web site: ECI Press release - Supreme Court’s judgement for “None of the Above” option on EVM– clarification . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170329124733/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/current/PN_28102013.pdf . 29 March 2017 . Election Commission of India.
  32. Web site: Who can vote by postal ballot?. The Economic Times. 23 November 2014.
  33. Web site: Election Commission to ensure postal votes don't get invalid. dna. 23 November 2014. 7 November 2013.
  34. Web site: Petition for Absentee Voting in Indian Elections . Voterswithoutborders.org . 6 August 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090416234322/http://voterswithoutborders.org/ . 16 April 2009 .
  35. Web site: People for Lok Satta- NRI voting campaign . Nrivotingrights.info . 9 January 2011 . 6 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110405111303/http://www.nrivotingrights.info/ . 5 April 2011 . dead .
  36. https://www.firstpost.com/india/postal-ballots-who-can-vote-through-etpb-how-to-get-registered-and-how-the-voting-is-done-an-explainer-6372611.html Postal ballots: Who can vote through ETPB, how to get registered and how the voting is done; an explainer
  37. https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/postal-ballots-how-to-vote-if-you-live-away-from-home_in_5c3c3d91e4b0e0baf53ec910 Maharashtra, Haryana Elections 2019: Can You Vote By Postal Ballot If You Aren't Living At Home?
  38. News: People over 80 years of age, disabled can now vote through postal ballot. Gorki. Bakshi. 29 October 2019. 22 September 2020.

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