ELECTION COMMISION

SUBMITTED BY: Kazi Naseb Ahmed

SUBMITTED TO: Sadhana Gaikwad Ma’am
 INTRODUCTION
• The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, constitutionally established federal
authority responsible for administering all the electoral processes in the Republic of India.
Under the supervision of the commission, free and fair elections have been held in India at
regular intervals as per the principles enshrined in the Constitution. The Election
Commission has the power of superintendence, direction and control of all elections to the
Parliament of India and the state legislatures of elections to the office of the President of
India and the Vice President of India.. The commission consists of a Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (EC), appointed by the President Of
India.
 FUNCTION & POWER’S
1. Guardian of Free and Fair Elections One of the most important features of the
democratic polity is elections at regular intervals. Democracy is the Government of the
people, By the people, And for the people. Holding periodic free & fair elections are
essentials of democratic system. It is part of basic structure of the Constitution which has
been held in T. N. Sheshan V/s Union of India. The Commission has taken many efforts
for the success of elections and thereby democracy.
 FUNCTION & POWER’S
2. Model Code of Conduct The Election Commission is regarded as guardian of free and fair
elections. In every election, it issues a Model code of Conduct for political parties and
candidates to conduct elections in free and fair manner. The Commission issued the code for
the first time in 1971 (5th Election) and revised it from time to time. It lay down guidelines for
conduct of political parties & candidates during elections. However, there are instances of
violation of code by the political parties and complaints are received for misuse of official
machinery by the candidates .In I.D. Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd. v/s. Chief Election
Commissioner, the Kerala High Court held that the object of model code of conduct is not to
stop all governmental activities but only those actions which may directly influence a section
of electors need to be prevented.
 FUNCTION & POWER’S
• 3. Registration of Political Parties A law regarding to this registration process was enacted in
1989 and number of parties got registered with Commission. It helps to avoid confusion and
headache of the administrative machinery as well as confusion of the electorate. It ensures that
political parties can practice democracy only by their registration.
• 4. Limits on Poll Expenses To get rid of the growing influences and vulgar show of money
during elections the Election Commission has made many suggestions in this regard. The
Election Commission has fixed the legal limits on the amount of money which a candidate can
spend during election campaigns. These limits have been revised from time to time. The
Election Commission by appointing observers keeps an eye on the individual account of election
expenditure. The contestants are also required to give details of expenditure with 30 days of
declaration of results. However, political parties do not adhere to the financial 'Lakshman Rekha
as huge amount are spent by parties under the garb of their supporters. The campaign period was
reduced by the Election Commission from 21 to 14 days for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections;
it is for to trim down election expenditure. The Election Commission's this attempt to impose
these measures has been a move in the right direction. Moreover, Election Commission takes
details of the candidate's asset on affidavit at the time of submitting nomination paper.
 FUNCTION & POWER’S
• 5. Prohibition on Publication The Commission can issue an order for prohibition of
publication and disseminating of results of opinion polls (Exit Polls).
• 6. Quasi judicial powers Under the Constitution, the Commission also has advisory
jurisdiction in the matter of post election disqualification of sitting members of
Parliament found guilty of corrupt practices at elections which come before the Supreme
Court and High Courts. The Courts refer to the Commission for its opinion on the
question as to whether such person shall be disqualified and, if so, for what period. The
opinion of the Commission in all such matters is binding on the President or, as the case
may be, the Governor to whom such opinion is tendered. The Commission has the
power to disqualify a candidate who has failed to lodge an account of his election
expenses within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. The Commission has also
the power for removing or reducing the period of such disqualification as also other
disqualification under the law.
 FUNCTION & POWER’S
• 7. Booth Level Officer Booth Level Officer (BLO) is a local Government/Semi-
Government official, familiar with the local electors and generally a voter in the same
polling area who assists in updating the roll using his local knowledge. BLO is a
representative of Election Commission of India (ECI) at the grass-root level who plays a
pivotal role in the process of roll revision and collecting actual field information with
regard to the roll corresponding to the polling area assigned to him. Under Section 13B
(2) of Representation of People Act, 1950, BLOs are appointed from amongst the
officers of the Govt. /Semi Govt. Local Bodies. Generally, one BLO is responsible for
one part of the electoral roll. From August 2006 the Commission has decided to
introduce the concept of appointing BLOs who would be accountable for ensuring the
fidelity of electoral roll.
 ELECTION MACHINERY IN STATES
• Chief Electoral Officers – 35
• District Election Officers 601
• Returning Officers (Parliament) – 543
• Returning Officers (Assembly) – 4120
• Ast. Returning Officers (Parliament) – 4600
• Ast. Returning Officers (Assembly) – 10,000
• Electoral Registration Officers - 4120Ast
• Electoral Registration Officers - 4800
 WHEN ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE?
• Term of Parliament & Assembly 5 years Assembly where it is 6 years
• House can be dissolved before its term ends Dates decided by the Commission.
• No consultation done with any Government Commission can call for elections six
months prior to the date on which normal tenure of Assembly or Parliament expires.14
General elections since 1952.
• Bye-elections when a seat falls vacant.
• Normally held within 6- months of vacancy. No Bye-elections if vacancy for less than
one year
 TIME & MODES OF ELECTION

• Campaign period of about 13 days or more Ends 48 hours before polling

closes Parties issue manifestoes Slogans,
• Door-to-door campaigning etc
• Posters, meetings, processions etc.
 RIGHT TO VOTE
• Any citizen over 18 can vote can vote
• Voting right denied to certain class of people criminal convicts of certain
class person convicted of electoral offence person of unsound mind
• There is no compulsion to vote
THANK YOU : KAZI NASEB AHMED ANWAR AHMED