ELECTION COMISSION

ELECTION

COMISSION

OF

INDIA

TEAM MEMBERSSANJAN

TEAM MEMBERSSANJANSAIFULLA

TEAM MEMBERSSANJANSAIFULLASACHIN

TEAM MEMBERSSANJANSAIFULLASACHINSAHANA

TEAM MEMBERSSANJANSAIFULLASACHINSAHANA

SANGEETHA

TEAM MEMBERSSANJANSAIFULLASACHINSAHANA

SANGEETHA

ELECTION IS THE REAL PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE IN DEMOCRACY WHERE THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN DIRECT WAY TO FORM GOVERNMENT . ELECTION IS NOT ONLY A PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE GO ON CAST THEIR VOTE THOUGH IT’S A FESTIVAL OF DEMOCRACY SYSTEM . DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON PEOPLE , PEOPLE DEPEND ON ELECTION THERE THEY ELECT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TO PARLIAMENT / GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GO WITH ELECTION FOR TAKING MEMORANDUM THROUGH PEOPLE OF HIS COUNTRY . WHENEVER GOVERNMENT NEEDS FOR A FRESH NEW TERM OF THE GOVERNMENT THEY WILL GO FOR ELECTION . ELECTION IS A PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT ALSO A POWER OF PEOPLE .

ELECTION IS THAT MECHANISAM BY WHICH PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE THEIR LEADER AT A REGULAR INTERVALS OF TIME & CHANGE THEM IF THEY WISH TO DO SO.

AH! SO ELECTIONS ARE LIKE EXAMS . WHERE POLITICIANS & PARTIES KNOW IF THEY HAVE PASSED / FAIL .

THE PRESENTCHIEF ELECTION

COMMISSIONOF INDIA

WHO IS

VEERAVALISUNDARAMSAMPATH

FOR ELECTION & GOVERNING PURPOSES. INDIA IS DIVDED INTO 543 ELECTORAL TERRITORIES KNOWN AS CONSTITUENCIES. ONE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED EACH OF THESE 543 PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES THEN BECOME A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT ( MP ) IN THE LOK-SABHA OF THE PARLIAMENT. THE LOK-SABHA MEANS ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE & IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE PARLIAMENT . THIS IS SIMILAR TO “ THE HOUSE OF COMMONS “ WHICH IS THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE PARLIAMENT IN U.K .

THE ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA PRESIDES OVER THE GENERAL ELECTION IN INDIA . THE ELECTORAL ROLL WHICH IS A VOTERS LIST FOR EACH CONSTITUENCIES IS PREPAPED . IT CONTAINS THE LIST OF VOTERS WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN EACH CONSTITUENCIES . REGISTERED VOTERS WILL HAVE A VOTERS ID CARD FOR IDENTIFICATION . THE MINIMUM AGE FOR VOTERS REGISTRATION IN INDIA IS 18 . ANY CITIZEN OF INDIA WHO IS 18 & ABOVE & WITH A SOUND MENTAL STATE CAN VOTE IN THE ELECTION OF INDIA

IN INDIA , MUTIPLE NUMBERS OF PARTIES CAN BE PERFORMED & CONTEST ELECTIONS . POLITICAL PARTIES ARE FORMED BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE BASED ON PRINCIPLE & IDEOLOGIES . THE ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA APPROVES THE CANDIDATE NOMINATED BY A PARTY TO STAND FOR ELECTION BASED ON A STIPULATED SET OF RULES . ELECTION CAMPAIGNING STARTS FULL SWING APPROXIMATELY A MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTIONS . THIS IS CLOSELY WATCHED BY ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA . PARTIES CAN GIVE SPEECHES , SHOUT , SLOGANS & HANG POSTERS / POSTERS . THEY SHOULD FOLLOW STIPULATED GUIDELINES WHICH THEY SHOULD NOT BREACH . VOTING IN INDIA IS DONE WITH THE HELP OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE ( EVM ) . AN IDEBILE INK IS PLACED ON ALL THOSE WHO VOTED . THIS HELP IN PREVENTING MISCREANTS FROM VOTING MULTIPLE TIMES IN A SINGLE ELECTION & CHEATING IN ELECTION .

ELECTION RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED WITHIN A STIPULATED TIME WITH HOW MANY SEATS EACH PARTY WON ALONG WITH THE NAME OF MP REPRESENTING EACH CONSTITUENCY . THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ( MP ) WHO FORM THE LOK-SABHA IN TURN WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN FORMING THE NEW GOVERNMENT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SEATS WON BY THE PARTIES ALSO DETERMINES WHO WILL BECOME PRIME MINISTER . THUS THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ELECTION SYSTEM PROCESS . INDIAN VOTERS IMPACT THE FORMAATION OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT .

THE ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA IS AN AUTONOMOUS , CONSTITUTIONALLY ESTABLISHED FEDERAL AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINSTERING ALL THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA . UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE COMISSION , FREE & FAIR ELECTION HAVE BEEN HELD IN INDIA AT REGULAR INTERVALS AS PER THE PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION . THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS THE POWER OF SUPERINTENDENCE , DIRECTION & CONTROL OF ALL ELECTIONS TO THE PARLIAMENT OF INDIA & THE STATE LEGISLATURE & OF ELECTIONS TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA & THE VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION HEADS THE ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA A BODY CONSTITUTIONALLY EMPOWERED TO CONDUCT FREE & FAIR ELECTION TO THE NATIONAL & STATE LEGISLATURES . CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA IS USUALLY A MEMBER OF INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE & MOSTLY FROM THE INDIAN ADMINSTATIVE SERVICE . IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE AUTHORITY OF CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION ONCE ELECTED BY THE PRESIDENT . AS TWO THIRD OF THE LOK-SABHA & THE RAJYA SABHA NEED TO VOTE AGAINST HIM FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT / IMPROPER ACTION. THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION CAN BE REMOVED ONLY THROUGH BY THE PARLIAMENT . AS PER THE ACT 1991 THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION HIS SALARY IS THE SAME AS SALARY OF A JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ( RS 90,000 )

ELECTION COMISSION

FUNCTIONSOF

ELECTION COMISSION

GUARDIAN OF FREE & FAIR ELECTION ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE DEMOCRATIC POLICY IS ELECTION AT REGULAR INTERVALS DEMOCRACY IS THE GOVERNMENT OF PEOPLE , BY THE PEOPLE , & FOR THE PEOPLE HOLDING PERIODIC FREE & FAIR ELECTION ARE ESSENTIAL OF DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM . IT IS PART OS BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION . THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS TAKEN MANY EFFORTS FOR THE SUCCESS OF ELECTION & THEREBY DEMOCRACY

MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT THE ELECTION COMISSION IS REGARDED AS THE GUARDIAN OF FREE & FAIR ELECTION . IN EVERY ELECTION , IT ISSUES A MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR POLITICAL PARTIES & CANDIDATES TO CONDUCT ELECTION IN FREE & FAIR MANNER. THE ELECTION COMISSION LAY DOWN GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCT OF POLITICAL PARTIES & CANDIDATES DURING ELECTION. HOWEVER THERE ARE INSTANCES OF VIOLATION OF CODE BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES & COMPLAINT ARE RECEIVED FOR MISUSE OF OFFICIAL MACHINERY BY THE CANDIDATES

REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES A LAW REGARDING TO THE REGISTRATION PROCESS WAS ENACTED IN 1989 & NUMBER OF PARTIES GOT REGISTERED WITH COMISSION . IT HELPS TO AVOID CONFUSION & HEADACHE OF THE ADMINSTRATIVE MACHINERY AS WELL AS CONFUSION OF THE ELECTORATE . IT ENSURES THAT POLITICAL PARTIES CAN PRACTISE DEMOCRACY ONLY BY THE REGISTRATION

LIMITS ON POLL EXPENSE TO GET RID OF THE GROWING INFLUENCE & VULGUR SHOW OF MONEY DURING ELECTION . THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS MADE MANY SUGGESTIONS IN THIS REGARD . THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS FIXED THE LEGAL LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHICH A CANDIDATE CAN SPEND DURING ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THE ELECTION COMISSION BY APPOINTING OBSERVERS KEEP AN EYE ON INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT OF ANNUAL EXPENDITURE . THE CONTESTANTWS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO GIVE DETAILS OF EXPENDITURE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DECLARATION OF RESULTS THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD WAS REDUCED BY THE ELECTION COMISSION FROM 21-14 DAYS FOR LOKSABHA & ASSEMBLY ELECTION. IT IS FOR TO TRIM DOWN ELECTION EXPENDITURE

IN INDIA , AN INDEPENDENT & VERY POWERFUL ELECTION COMISSION TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION

THE KIND OF INDEPEDENCE & POWERS THE ELECTION COMISSION ENJOYS

*THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA APPOINTS THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION ( CEC ).

*THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSION IS THE HEAD OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION

*ONCE APPOINTED THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSIONER IS NOT ANSWERABLE TO THE PRESIDENT / THE GOVERNMENT.EVEN IF THE RULING PARTY DOESNOT LIKE WHAT THE COMISSIONER DOES , IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO REMOVE THE CHIEF ELECTION COMISSION.

*VERY FEW ELECTION COMISSION IN THE WORLD HAVE SUCH WIDE RANGING POWERS AS THE ELECTION COMISSION OF INDIA

*ELECTION COMISSION TAKES DECISION ON EVERY ASPECT OF CONDUCTS & CONTROL OF ELECTIONS FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTIONS TO THE DECLARATION OF RESULTS

*IT IMPLEMENTS THE CODE OF CONDUCT & PUNISHES ANY CANDIDATE / PARTY THAT VIOLATES IT

*WHEN ON ELECTION DUTY , GOVERNMENT OFFICERS WORK UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ELECTION COMISSION & NOT THE GOVERNMENT.

.

*THE ELECTION COMISSION IS AN INDEPENDENT & POWERFUL AS THE JUDICIARY IN INDIA

•DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD , THE ELECTION COMISSION CAN ORDER THE GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW SOME GUIDELINES TO PREVENT USE & MISUSE GOVERNMENTAL POWER TO ENHANCE ITS CHANCES TO WIN ELECTION / TO TRANSFER SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

•IN THE LAST 15 YEARS THE ELECTION COMISSION HAS BEGUN TO EXERCISE ALL ITS POWER & EVEN EXPAND THEM.

ELECTION

ELECTION PROCEDURE IN INDIA

1. PREPARATION OF VOTERS LIST IN A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION , THE LIST OF THOSE

WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IS PREPARED BEFORE THE ELECTION & GIVEN TO EVERYONE THIS LIST IS OFFICIALLY CALLED THE ELECTORAL ROLL & IS COMONLY KNOWN AS VOTERS LIST .

2. NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT IN ORDER TO BE A CANDIDATE THE MINIMUM AGE IS 25 WHILE IT IS ONLY 18 YEARS FOR BEING A VOTER . EVERY PERSON WHO WISHES TO CONTEST AN ELECTION HAS TO FILL A NOMINATION FORM & GIVE SOME MONEY AS A SECURITY DEPOSIT.

3. ELECTION CAMPAIGN IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE A FREE & FAIR & OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO IS BETTER REPRESENTATIVE , WHICH PARTY WILL MAKE A BETTER . GOVERNMENT / WHAT IS GOOD POLICY . THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

RUGGL4. POLLING & COUNTING OF VOTES THE FINAL STAGE OF ELECTION IS THE DAY WHEN THE VOTER’S CAST / POLL THEIR VOTE . EVERY PERSON WHOSE NAME IS ON THE VOTERS LIST CAN GO TO NEARBY POLLING BOOTHS SITUATED USUALLY IN A LOCAL SCHOOL / A GOVERNMENT OFFICE .

ELECTIONCAMPAIGN

•Election Campaign1) Election campaigns in India takes place for two weeks, starting from the declaration of the final list of candidates contesting the elections and concluding 48 hours before the date of polling.2) During this campaign, candidates reach out to the voters. Political leaders hold election meetings and rallies for informing the voters about their policies and persuading them to vote for them.3) Some successful slogans used during campaigns are “Garibi Hatao” (used by the Congress, led by Indira Gandhi, in the year 1971), “Save Democracy” (used by Janata party in 1977), “Land to the Tiller’ (used by The Left Front in West Bengal Assembly elections, 1977), etc.

ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTION

ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTION THE ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTORAL POLITICS HAS ASSUMED DANGEROUS PROPORTION EVERY POLITICAL PARTIES HAS DEVELOPED A TENDENCY TO LEAN ON THE CAPITALISTS FOR FIGHTING ELECTIONS . WHILE THE RULING PARTY COLLECT HUGE ELECTION FUNDS , THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE NO SUCH ADVANTAGE . THIS NOT ONLY BREEDS CORRUPTION BUT ALSO DENIES THE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY.

ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTION THE ROLE OF MONEY IN ELECTORAL POLITICS HAS ASSUMED DANGEROUS PROPORTION EVERY POLITICAL PARTIES HAS DEVELOPED A TENDENCY TO LEAN ON THE CAPITALISTS FOR FIGHTING ELECTIONS . WHILE THE RULING PARTY COLLECT HUGE ELECTION FUNDS , THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE NO SUCH ADVANTAGE . THIS NOT ONLY BREEDS CORRUPTION BUT ALSO DENIES THE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY.

THE INCREASING ROLE OF MONEY DISTORTS THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS*IT PLACES THE RULING PARTY AT AN ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION •IT MAKES THE ELECTORAL BATTLE A STRUGGLE BETWEEN UNEQUALS.•IT PERVERTS THE THINKING OF VOTERS & THEY EXERCISE THEIR VOTE UNDER THE GREED OR INFLUENCE OF MONEY.•IT ERODES THE FAITH OF HONEST VOTERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM•IT TILTS THE BALANCE OF POWER IN FAVOUR OF THE PARTY HAVING ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AT ITS DISPOSAL•IT DISTORTS THE REPRESENTATIVE CHARACTER OF OUR ELECTORAL BODIES.

-SAIFULLA

-SAIFULLA