3.
Electoral Constituencies:
India is divided into different areas for the
purpose of elections called electoral constituencies
The voters who live in a constituency elect one
representative.
Total constituencies –
General
Reserved (SC)
Reserved (ST)
543
–
412
–
–
84
47
4. For Lok Sabha elections the country is divided into
543 constituencies.
Each constituency has roughly equal population
living within it.
The member elected from each constituency is
called ‘Member of Parliament’ or ‘MP’.
Each
state is sub-divided into Assembly
constituencies.
The elected representatives are called - ’Members
of Legislative Assembly’ or ‘MLA’
Each village or town is sub-divided into ‘wards’.
Thus, each parliamentary constituency has within it
several assembly constituencies, within which are
several wards.
6.
Some constitutions are reserved for people who
come from scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled
tribe (ST). This applies to ‘Other Backward
Classes’ or ‘OBC’ as well.
This is to prevent domination of those with
better resources and give a chance to weaker
sections of society.
In an SC reserved constituency, only someone
from the SC’s can stand for elections.
7. Chandigarh
Constituencies with one MP
Sikkim
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Nagaland
State with largest number of MP’s - 80
Daman and Diu
Mizoram
Karnataka - 28
Lakshadweep
Pondicherry
Andaman and Nicobar islands
9.
The campaign is the period when the political parties
put forward their candidates and arguments with
which they hope to persuade people to vote for their
candidates and parties.
Candidates are given a week to put forward their
nominations.
Polling is normally held on a number of different
days in different constituencies, to enable the security
forces and those monitoring the election to keep law
and order and ensure that voting during the election
is fair
11.
For every constituency, there is a voters list Article 326
of the Constitution, and Sec. 19 of R. P. Act, 1950
stipulate that the minimum age for registration of a
voter is 18 years.
Earlier, the age for registration of a voter was 21 years.
Through the 61st amendment Act, 1988 of the
Constitution read with Act 21 of 1989 amending the R. P.
Act, 1950, the minimum age of registration of a voter
has been brought down to 18 years. This has been made
effective from 28th March, 1989.
A person who is not a citizen of India cannot be
registered as a voter.
A person cannot be enrolled as a voter in more than one
place in the same constituency or in more than one
constituency
14. PRE -ELECTIONS
At first before the elections the dates of
nomination, polling and counting takes
place.
The model code of conduct comes in force
from the day the dates are announced.
The code of conduct stipulates that
campaigning be stopped 48 hours prior to
polling day.
15. VOTING DAY
Government schools and colleges are chosen as polling
stations. The Collector of each district is in charge of
polling.
Government employees are employed to many of the
polling stations.
Electronic
Voting Machines (EVMs) are being
increasingly used instead of ballot boxes to prevent
election fraud via booth capturing, which is heavily
prevalent in certain parts of India.
An indelible ink is applied usually on the left index
finger of the voter as an indicator that the voter has
cast his vote.
16. POST ELECTIONS
After the election day, the EVMs are stored in a strong
room under heavy security. After the different phases
of the elections are complete, a day is set to count the
votes.
The votes are tallied typically, the verdict is known
within hours. The candidate who has mustered the
most votes is declared the winner of the constituency.
The party or coalition that has won the most seats is
invited by the President to form the new government.
18. INTRODUCTION
Election Commission of India is a body that is
constitutionally empowered to conduct free
and fair elections to the national and state
legislatures.
The decisions of the Election Commission are
taken by a majority vote.
Naveen Chandra Hale Mani is the present
Chief Election Commissioner.
19. APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL
The President of India appoints the two
Election Commissioners. They have tenure of
6 years, or up to the age of 65 ; which ever is
earlier. Sixty five however is the age limit.
The salary and other conditions of service of
the Election Commissioner are determined by
the Parliament of India through - "Election
Commission Act 1991.”
20. CURRENT AFFAIRS
The Election Commission currently consists
of the Chief Election Commissioner and two
Election Commissioners.
Commission's Notice to Sri Rahul
Gandhi for communal speech.
Instructions of the Commission with
respect to use of Social Media in
Election Campaigning.
Commission's order to Sri Kailas Vijay
Vargas.