The document summarizes key information about general elections in India, including:
1) General elections are held every five years to elect members of the Lok Sabha, with over 814 million registered voters casting ballots at over 9 million polling stations across multiple days.
2) The Election Commission of India oversees the electoral process as an independent authority, with a focus on ensuring free and fair elections through mechanisms like the model code of conduct and observation of polls.
3) Citizens over 18 can vote, and elections are conducted using electronic voting machines on a first-past-the-post system with candidates campaigning under political party symbols.
The document summarizes key information about general elections in India, including:
1) General elections are held every five years to elect members of the Lok Sabha, with over 814 million registered voters casting ballots at over 9 million polling stations across multiple days.
2) The Election Commission of India oversees the electoral process as an independent authority, with a focus on ensuring free and fair elections through mechanisms like the model code of conduct and observation of polls.
3) Citizens over 18 can vote, and elections are conducted using electronic voting machines on a first-past-the-post system with candidates campaigning under political party symbols.
The document summarizes key information about general elections in India, including:
1) General elections are held every five years to elect members of the Lok Sabha, with over 814 million registered voters casting ballots at over 9 million polling stations across multiple days.
2) The Election Commission of India oversees the electoral process as an independent authority, with a focus on ensuring free and fair elections through mechanisms like the model code of conduct and observation of polls.
3) Citizens over 18 can vote, and elections are conducted using electronic voting machines on a first-past-the-post system with candidates campaigning under political party symbols.
Nine Poll days 814 Million Registered Electors EVMs: 17,20,080 control units 18,78,306 ballot units 7 34 322 Political Parties that participated in the 2009 General Elections National Parties State Parties Registered (Unrecognised) Parties ELECTORS CANDIDATES PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF INDIA Independent constitutional authority For holding regular, free and fair elections Three member body Headquartered at New Delhi with organs at state and district levels Elections to the Lower House or House of the People (Lok Sabha) of the Indian Parliament Party or coalition that secures majority in Lok Sabha forms Government at the Centre. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA When Elections Take Place Every five years, unless House is dissolved earlier Called earlier by the President upon dissolution of Lok Sabha, if Government loses confidence of majority of members and if there is no alternative Government to take over 2014 Elections shall be the 16 th ; the 1 st General Election was in 1951 - 1952. Population Electors Enrolled Electors Voters Who can vote Any Indian citizen over the age of 18 on 1 st January of the year and who is ordinarily resident in the constituency concerned Based on universal adult suffrage Eligible elector to register in respective constituency Indian citizens living abroad also can be enrolled at the address given in their passports K E Y
S T A K E H O L D E R S 1623 759 1859 3829 Contestants in the 2009 General Elections Members of National Parties Members of State Parties Members of Registered Unrecognized Parties Independents POLITICAL PARTIES Who can contest Any Indian citizen who is registered as a voter & is over 25 years of age May be either belonging to a party or independent Every candidate is required to make a security deposit Deposit is Rs. 25,000/- for General Candidates, Rs. 12,500/- for SCs and STs Candidates to file affidavit about their assets, liabilities, criminal background and educational qualifications. Conduct of elections largely dependent on their behaviour Should be registered with ECI INTRODUCTION SVEEP Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation To improve electoral participation & to build up a culture of participative democracy Integral part of election management in India EPIC Electors Photo Identity Card Provided upon registration to each individual elector Provided free of cost Division into Parliamentary Constituencies Whole of India divided into 543 constituencies. Based on number of seats allocated to each of the 28 states and 7 union territories on the basis of their population. Size and shape determined by Delimitation Commission of India. One member elected to Lok Sabha from each constituency, filling 543 of 545 seats. Two members nominated by the President from the Anglo-Indian community. D E C I D I N G
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B A T T L E F I E L D S First-past-the-post Electoral System Each elector can vote for one candidate Candidate with maximum votes wins Electoral Rolls Lists of registered electors in each constituency Revised annually All rolls computerized & include photos of each elector. ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION BETWEEN CONTESTANTS & ELECTORS THE ELECTORAL PROCESS Supervising Elections Done by Observers appointed by ECI In order to: Ensure fair conduct of campaigns Ensure free and ethical voting Keep a check on election expenditure Types of Observers: General Observers Police Observers Expenditure Observers Awareness Observers Micro Observers Model Code of Conduct For political parties and contestants Broad guidelines on conduct during campaign Evolved by ECI on the basis of consensus among political parties To maintain campaign on healthy lines & to ensure a level playing field Limit on Poll Expenses Tight legal limits on poll expenditure by candidates Varies between Rs.54 lakhs and Rs.70 lakhs REGULATORY MECHANISMS Scheduling the Elections Done by Election Commission of India Considering weather, festivals, school exams, etc. Seeking to maximize electoral participation Generally held in phases to ensure effective security arrangements for peaceful poll Electronic Voting Machines Voting by secret ballot Used exclusively since 2004 General Elections Polling Stations Usually set up in public institutions Within 2 km of every voter No polling station to deal with more than 1,500 voters POLLING MANAGEMENT Election Symbols An election symbol is allotted to each candidate and to each political party Enable illiterate voters to identify the party and candidate they wish to vote for Candidates of recognized parties are allotted the party symbol Manifestos Issued by parties and candidates on the eve of election Detail programmes they wish to implement if elected, highlighting ones own strengths and failures of opponents 79 41 423 Reserved for SC Reserved for ST General Timeline of Poll Events None of the Above (NOTA) Introduced in 2013 in State Assembly Elections Shall be the last button on the EVM Voter can press this button if he/she does not wish to vote for any of the candidates Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) Prints a ballot slip showing the name and symbol of candidate to whom vote has been given To improve voter satisfaction Counting of Votes Done after completion of all phases of polling Under the supervision of Returning Officers and Election Observers Counting for all 543 constituencies done on a single day Results declared within a few hours Indelible Ink Applied to voters left fore-finger before permitting him/her to vote Used to control fake voting Dries up in 60 seconds and remains for a few months Cannot be removed by chemicals, detergents or oil Proxy Voting Option to vote through proxy or through postal ballot is available to service voters belonging to the Armed Forces or to members belonging to a force to which the Army Act applies Postal Ballot Certain sections of voters entitled to vote by post Includes those on election duty, service voters & certain others INTERESTING FACTS OF GENERAL ELECTIONS 2009 Highest Polling station: Auleyphu in Leh (15,300 m) Maximum number of votes polled by a candidate: 8,32,224 Minimum number of votes polled by a candidate: 118 Maximum number of candidates in a constituency: 43 Minimum number of candidates in a constituency: 3 Maximum voter turnout in a constituency: 90.32% Minimum voter turnout in a constituency: 25.55% Largest constituency (by area): Ladakh (J&K) 1,73,266.37 sq. km Smallest constituency (by area):Chandni Chowk (Delhi) - 10.59 sq. km Largest constituency (by size of electorate): Outer Delhi (NCT of Delhi) - 31,03,525 electors Smallest constituency (by size of electorate):Lakshadweep - 37,619 electors A polling station was set up in Junagadh district in Gir Forests of Gujarat for just one elector. 2009 ELECTIONS 8,070 Candidates 363 Registered Political Parties 10 Million Personnel on poll duty (including police personnel) 834,919 Polling Stations 717 Million Registered Electors 2,046 Observers 1,39,284 Micro Observers 46,90,575 Polling Staff EVMs: 9,08,643 control units 11,83,543 ballot units 74,729 Videographers 40,599 Digital Cameras Election Expenditure by Central Government - 8,466 million rupees 1080 Counting Centres Five Phases Spread over one month WORLDS LARGEST DEMOCRATIC EXERCISE * Source : Election Commission of India WHATS NEW PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ******* General Elections 2014 New Delhi: 14th March, 2014 RM