All About Election Commission of India

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body responsible for administering all elections in the Republic of India. The commission is structured into two parts: the Chief Election Commissioner and the four Election Commissioners. The commission is responsible for conducting free and fair elections, registering political parties, overseeing campaign finance, and managing voter lists. In this blog post, we will discuss the structure of the commission, its functions, and voting procedures. Stay tuned for more!

History of Election Commission Of India

The Election Commission of India is a permanent and independent body established by the Constitution of India. The Commission was first set up on 25th January 1950 to oversee the first general elections of the country. Since then, it has been responsible for conducting all elections in India at the central and state level.

The Commission is a three-member body comprising a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. All three members are appointed by the President of India for a tenure of six years, or until they reach the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament. The First Chief Election Commissioner of India was Sukumar Sen, and the current Chief Election Commissioner is Sushil Chandra.

Structure of the Election Commission Of India (ECI)

The Election Commission of India is a three-member body consisting of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. The Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by the President of India for a tenure of six years, or until they reach the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament. The two Election Commissioners are also appointed by the President for a tenure of six years.

Functions of the Election Commission Of India (ECI)

The primary function of the commission is to prepare and conduct elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and offices of the President and Vice President.

The commission has several other important functions, including:

• Registering political parties
• Recognizing national and state parties
• Allocating party symbols
• Supervising campaign finance
• Monitoring compliance with the Model Code of Conduct
• Investigating complaints of electoral malpractice
• Conducting by-elections

Voting Procedure

In India, voting is a voluntary process and there is no provision for compulsory voting. The minimum age for voting is 18 years. Indian citizens who are residing abroad can also vote in elections if they are registered as overseas voters.

Voting takes place through electronic voting machines (EVMs) which display the symbols of all the registered parties. Each voter has to press the button next to the symbol of the party they wish to vote for. The EVM then records the vote and displays it on a screen. The votes are counted manually, and the results are declared by the Returning Officer.

An Electronic Voting machine (EVM) is a machine used to record and store votes cast in an election. EVMs are designed to prevent electoral fraud and to provide a high level of security. They are also easy to use and can be operated by anyone, regardless of their literacy levels. EVM machines are simple to use and can be operated by anyone, regardless of their literacy levels. Each voter has to press the button next to the symbol of the party they wish to vote for. The EVM then records the vote and displays it on a screen. The votes are counted manually, and the results are declared by the Returning Officer.

State Election Commissions

Each state in India has its own State Election Commission (SEC) which is responsible for conducting elections for local bodies such as municipal corporations, panchayats, and village councils. The SEC is a three-member body that is appointed by the Governor of the state.

The functions of the SEC are similar to that of the ECI, but on a smaller scale. Some important functions of the SEC are:

• Registering political parties
• Allocating party symbols
• Supervising campaign finance
• Monitoring compliance with the Model Code of Conduct
• Investigating complaints of electoral malpractice
• Conducting bye-elections.

For example, Uttar Pradesh Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Conclusion 

In Conclusion, The Election Commission of India is a very important organisation in the country that ensures free and fair elections. It is responsible for the conduct of elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and offices of the President and Vice-President of India. The Commission also prepares electoral rolls, recognizes political parties and symbols allocated to them etc. It acts as an advisory body to the President on matters relating to election disputes. The Commission has taken several steps in recent years to improve voter awareness and participation in elections. The Election commission of India plays a vital role in ensuring that all eligible citizens can exercise their right to vote in a free and fair manner. All citizens need to be aware of the work of ECI.