Election Commission Of India

What is the Election Commission of India?

The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional authority tasked with overseeing the electoral processes at both the Union and State levels in India.

This body is responsible for conducting elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, as well as for the positions of President and Vice President.

Articles 324 to 329 of the Constitution outline the powers, functions, tenure, and eligibility criteria of the Election Commission and its members.

In each state, a Chief Electoral Officer is appointed to assist the Election Commission in its duties. However, it’s worth noting that the commission is not involved in the conduct of local body elections.

Initially, the Election Commission of India comprised a single member until 1989, when two election commissioners were appointed just before the elections of that year. Subsequently, in 1993, two election commissioners became a permanent feature, turning the commission into a multi-member body.

Multi-Member Commission

A multi-member Election Commission is deemed more suitable as it promotes power-sharing and enhances accountability.

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) leads the Election Commission but does not wield greater authority than the other Election Commissioners. Together, they hold equal decision-making powers regarding electoral matters.

Their appointment is made by the President of India, based on the recommendations of the Council of Ministers.

The Constitution guarantees the security of tenure for the CEC and Election Commissioners. They serve a six-year term or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes first.

The CEC can only be removed before the end of the term if both Houses of Parliament recommend such action with a special majority. This provision safeguards against the possibility of a ruling party attempting to remove a CEC who refuses to show favoritism in elections.

Functions of the Election Commission of India

The Election Commission of India is entrusted with a wide array of responsibilities:

1. Supervising the regular update of the voter’s list to ensure its accuracy and completeness.
2. Ensuring the elimination of errors in the voter’s list, such as the inclusion of ineligible or non-existent individuals or the exclusion of eligible voters.
3. Determining the timing of elections and formulating the comprehensive election schedule, which includes crucial dates like the notification of elections, nomination filing period, scrutiny deadline, withdrawal deadline, polling date, and result declaration date.
4. Solely responsible for conducting elections, the Election Commission has the authority to make decisions aimed at maintaining the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.
5. In instances where the electoral atmosphere is deemed compromised, the Commission can postpone or cancel elections at the national, state, or constituency level. It also establishes a model code of conduct for political parties and candidates to adhere to.
6. Authorized to order a re-poll in a specific constituency or recount votes if it deems the counting process to be unfair or flawed.
7. Grants recognition to political parties and assigns symbols to each party, which are used during elections to distinguish between candidates representing different parties.

Election and Representation Class 11 Notes: CBSE Class 11 Political Science Notes are essential for students studying Social Science, as Political Science is a crucial sub-subject that requires properly written answers. Scoring well in Political Science is just as important as other subjects.

These notes talk about different kinds of elections and how they happen in our country. They also tell us about two important ways elections are done: First Past the Post and proportional representation. We also learn about important groups like the Election Commission and the Delimitation Commission, which make sure elections are fair. By reading these notes, students can improve their chances of getting higher marks in their Political Science Exam.