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5/24/2018 ECI Presentation
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Election Commission of India
URL : www.eci.gov.in
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Electoral Administration - Framework
Election Commission of IndiaThe IndianConstitution provides for its creation.
Appointment of CEC and ECs Right to vote to all above 18 years of age
Bicameral Composition of Parliament
Composition of State Legislatures
Delimitation of constituencies after each census
Duration of each House
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Election Commission of India
Constitutional Provision
Article 324 (1) - The superintendence,
direction and control of the preparation of theelectoral rolls for, and the conduct of, allelections to Parliament and to the Legislatureof every State and of elections to the offices
of President and Vice-President held underthis Constitution shall be vested in theElection Commission.
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A Multi-Member Commission
Constitutional Position
Article 324 (2)The Election Commission shall consist of
the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of
other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may
from time to time fix and the appointment of the ChiefElection Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that
behalf by Parliament, be made by the President.
Article 324 (3) When any other Election Commissioneris so appointed the Chief Election Commissioner shall act
as the Chairman of the Election Commission.
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A Multi-Member Commission
From Jan 1950 to mid Oct 1989A single Member Commission
headed by a Chief Election Commissioner.
(Argument put forward was that decisions need to be taken
expeditiously when election process is on. And, a single member
Commission would be more suited for it)
From Oct 16, 1989 till Dec 1989 It was a Three MemberCommission.
From Jan 1990 to Sep 1993A Single Member Commission.
From Oct 1993 till todayA Three Member Commission.
(The Chief Election Commissioner and Two ElectionCommissioners)
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Conditions of Service
The CEC and the ECs placed at par in matters of salary and allowances
and it is the same as that of a judge of Supreme Court. Tenure of CEC and ECs fixed as 6 years subject to the maximum age
limit of 65 years.
The CEC and ECs all have equal powers in matters of decision making.
In case of difference, decisions are taken by opinion of majority.
The Commission takes all the elections by consensus.
The CEC shall not be removed from his office except in the like mannerand on the like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Service conditions cannot be varied to his disadvantage after hisappointment.
The ECs cannot be removed except on the CECsrecommendation.
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Commissions Secretariat
Deputy Election Commissioners03
Directors(Admn. And IT)01
Secretaries (Zonals and Specifics)10
Under Secretaries12 Jt Director + OSD (IT)02
Assistant Director (Stats.)02
Section Officers33 Assistants & others275
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Election Machinery in States
Chief Electoral Officers35
District Election Officers601
Returning Officers (Parliament)543
Returning Officers (Assembly)4120 Asstt. Returning Officers (Parliament)4600
Asstt. Returning Officers (Assembly)10,000
Electoral Registration Officers4120 Asstt. Electoral Registration Officers - 4800
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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
Voting statistics
57.94% in 1996
61.97% in 1998
59.01% in 1999
58.07% in 2004
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Scale of Operation
Recognized National Parties06
Recognized State Parties45
Registered Unrecognized Parties702
Polling Stations687,000
ElectorateNearly 671 million
Turn outNearly 389 million
Staff deployed on Poll Day (Presiding Officers, Polling
Officers and helpers)Nearly 4 million Security personnel deployedNearly 2.5 million
Approximate direct costINR 13000 million (USD280 million)
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Transaction of Business
Regular meetings
Circulation of papers
Consultation and informal discussions All Election Commissioners have equal say
Delegation of some executive functions to
officers
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Division of work
Functional and territorial divisions
Functional Planning
Judicial
Administration Information Systems
Media
Secretarial Coordination
Territorial - States and UTs divided into 6 zones (North, North-
East, East. Central, West, South)
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Budget and Expenditure
Voted budget
Independent Budget finalised in consultation withFinance Ministry
Funds for Conduct of elections reflected in the budgetof States/UTs
Only Parliament election - Funded entirely by Centre
Only Assembly election - Funded by the State
Simultaneous election - Expenses shared equally
Expenditure on capital equipment shared equally Expenditure on electoral rolls, PICs also shared equally
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When Elections take place?
Term of Parliament & Assembly - 5years (except J & KAssembly where it is 6 years)
House can be dissolved before its term ends
Dates decided by the Commission. No consultation done withany Government
Commission can call for elections six months prior to the dateon 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 thanone year
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Scheduling of Elections
No more than 6-month gap between last session of
Parliament/Assembly and recalling of new House Elections to fall within this period
Number of considerations in scheduling:
Weather
Law & order Movement of Central police forces
Agricultural cycles
Festivals
Exam schedules
Public holidays
Logistical requirements
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Who can Contest?
Any citizen over 25 years for Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha
Any citizen over 30 years for Rajya sabha & Vidhan Parishad For Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha candidate- registered voter in any
state
For Vidhan Sabha & Vidhan Parishad- registered voter only inthat state
Candidate should not be convicted or disqualified otherwise
Security deposit:
Rs.10,000/ for Lok Sabha
Rs. 5000/- for Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha & Vidhan Parishad
SC & ST candidates pay half the amount
Deposit returned if candidate secures more than 1/6th of validvotes
Nominations need to be proposed by electors:
one for candidate of national/state party
ten for others
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The Contestants
7 days for filing nominations Scrutiny a day following the last date for nominations
Thereafter 2 days provided for withdrawal
Final list prepared after withdrawal
4370 candidates for 543 seats in 1999, 5435 in 2004 (2386 independents)
Average number of contestants: 1952 -- 3.8
1991 -- 16.3
1996 -- 25.6
1998 -- 8.75
1999 -- 8.05 2004 -- 10.01
Size of deposit increased in1996
Number of electors nominating a candidate increased
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Time and mode of election campaigns
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.
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Model Code of Conduct
Part I Minimum standards of behaviour Part II Public meetings Part III Processions by political parties
Part IV Conduct of political parties Part V Conduct on poll day
Part VI Handling of complaints
Part VII Parties in Power
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Checks on Party in Power
No official tour with campaigning
Bar on use of official vehicle/aircraft
Equal opportunity for use of public places for
meetings, stay etcNo ads on public expense
No announcement or promise of new schemes
No new financial sanctions
No fresh appointments
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Voter Education - I
By EC Fund provided to CEOs to give Newspaper inserts, radio jingles,
television spots, Banners, posters and produce literature
In rural areasdrum beating, chaupal (village assemblies) etc
Electoral Rolls displayed and read in local bodies like GramSabhas and Residents Welfare Associations etc.
To enable voters to make an informed choice
- All candidates are required to declare their criminal past,educational qualifications, assets and liabilities etc.- Affidavits
filed displayed publicly and also put on the EC website. Efforts on to make information on poll expenses public.
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Voter Education - II
By NGOs NGOs are encouraged to educate voters
A number of Election Watch Groups played a positive roll in2004 elections
One industry gr. also helped in putting up helplines and kiosks
By Political parties and candidates
They are the real stake holders and hence play crucial role invoter education
Advertisements, person to person contacts, meetings, posters are
the modes
By Media
Media mature - plays a crucial role
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Women Participation
Women seats No specific law for reservation of seats as yet
Political parties expected to put up women candidatesin reasonable numbers
Facilities on the polling stations
Separate Q for women voters
At least one lady officer posted in every polling station
Lady officer alone can see and verify pardhanasheenladies ( Ladies wearing veils)
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Limits on Poll Expenses - ILimits on candidates
Lok Sabha - Maximum Rs. 2,500,000 ; Minimum - Rs. 1,000,000. Vidhan Sabha- Max. Rs. 1,000,000; Min. - Rs. 500,000.
Commission monitors expenses closely
Expenditure Observers
Detailed accounts furnished by candidates within 30 days of
declaration of election results
Limits on politicasl parties
Political parties and supporters till recently could spend as much asthey wanted in the campaign in addition
Political parties will file their annual income statements before theCommission
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Limits on Poll Expenses-II
Expenses that are exempted No expenses except the travel expenses on upto 40
national leaders of a recognised party and 20 ofregistered/unrecognised parties are exempted
Expenses made by well wishers, friends and relativesof the candidates are now added to the candidatesexpenditure
Expenses incurred by the parties to publicise its
policies and programmes are not included in thecandidates expenditure
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Electronic Media
Arrangement between Prasar Bharti and ElectionCommission
Free time on AIR and Doordarshan to National andState parties
Political parties can reach out to every corner Ensures level playing field
63 hours given during GE 1999, -- hours during GE2004
Indirect State funding Now being extended to the Private Channels
P ti f El ti
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Preparation for Elections
- Mobilisation of the Staff
Drawn from various Central and StateGovernment departments - no private individualassociated
Staff on deputation with the Commission Staff subject to Commission disciplinary
control
Staff mobilized & deployed by the CEO under
Commissions instruction
P ti f El ti
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Preparation for Elections
- Deployment and Training of Staff
Staff of various districts and states can be mixed to ensurefairness
Staff given nominal honorarium
Deployment of Government employees keeps expenditure undercheck, enhances control
Trainingof ROs,EROs & Observers by the EC, of DEOs, DyDEOs, ROs & EROs by the CEOs and of the Polling staff bythe DEOs
Tainted and known to be aligned not associated Commission takes prompt action on complaints against staff
deployed
P ti f El ti
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Preparation for Elections
- Procurement of Materials
Procurement of EVMs by the Commission
Other materials by the CEOs and DEOs
Standard procurement procedures followed Specifications of materials decided by the
Commission in case of non standard items
Advance planning by the Commission, CEOsand DEOs for procurement at their levels
Preparation for Elections
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Preparation for Elections
- Relationship with stakeholders
Commission hears complaints & concerns of all
political parties
All political parties given similar treatment
CEOs and DEOs call meetings of Political Parties for
electoral rolls, enforcement of code of conduct, for
deciding polling stations & counting centres
Any individual or NGO can offer suggestions or canfile complaints with the EC, CEOs & DEOs
Preparation for Elections
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Preparation for Elections
- Security Arrangements
Assessment for Central Forces requirement is madekeeping in mind the Law and Order situation
State police and central paramilitary forces deployed
based on requirements No police organ having any affiliation to the ruling
party deployed
Confidence building measures taken
Situations watched regularly - special directions given,if needed
Ob
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Observers
Appointed from senior civil servants
General Observers drawn from IAS
Expenditure Observers drawn from IRS
Statutory role for Observers Report directly to Commission
Eyes and ears of the Commission in the Constituencies
Nearly 2000 observers appointed in GE 2004
All counting centers covered
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Ingradients of a Credible Election
Correct electoral rolls - fair opportunity is given to allfor addition and deletion of names
Freedom for filing nominations to all eligible persons
No coercionfor abstention or casting votes
Proper enforcement of Model Code of Conduct tocreate a level playing field
Expenses by the candidates within the prescribed limits
Conditionsin which an average elector feels secure
for casting his vote freely without any fear Complete transparency in all electoral operations
G i R d l M h i
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Grievance Redressal Mechanism
Registration of electors
Complete transparency maintained during preparation and revision of voterlist
Provision of appeals and redressal of grievances at every level
Mechanism during the Campaign, the Poll and the counting of votes
Setting up Control Rooms, Helplines and a credible communication network
to facilitate filing of complaints and their timely redressal
Election Petitions after the results are declared
Can be filed by any elector or candidate
Heard by High Court of the State
Can lead to re-staging of the election
Filed within 45 days of declaration of results Appeals lie with Supreme Court
Information Technology
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gyand the EC Website
EC makes an extensive use of Information Technology
Dissemination of information amongst it offices through intranet and to thepublic through internet
The electoral rolls are computerised in all the state languages and are availableon the internet
EC website is a comprehensive resource center for Indian Elections with:
all election laws, manuals and handbooks
Election results Electoral rolls (Voter Lists)
EC servers are linked with all 1500 counting centers of the country on the pollday and results are made available in the real time
URL is www.eci.gov.in
Electoral Reforms
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Electoral Reforms
Criminalisation of politics
Number of seats a person can contest
Ext Polls and Opinion Polls
Surrogate Advertisements on Print Media
Political Ads on TV and Cable network Party Accounts and its Audit
Government sponsored Advertisements
Negative/Neutral Voting
Decisions on Anti-defection cases
Other New Initiatives
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Other New Initiatives
Use of Electronic Voting Machines
Free time on state owned Electronic media for political parties - a steptowards state funding of elections
Check on criminalization of politics
Computer networking and use of Information Technology
Computerization of Electoral rolls
Photo I-Cards
Electoral rolls with photograph E-registration of electors
Publishing national voter register on the EC website with a credible searchmechanism
Use of the GIS in electoral management
Simplifying maintenance of accounts by candidates
Simplifying filing of accounts Streamlining procedure for registration
Model Code of Conduct
GE 2004 I t ti F t
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GE 2004Interesting Facts
1. The oldest Candidate, as well as winner was 94 years old.
2. The youngest elected MP is 26 years old.
3. The average age of elected MP is 52.6 years.
4. Out of 543 MPs, 45 are women.5. Maximum number of candidates was 35 in Madras South
Constituency.
6. Due to first-past-the-post system, about 2/3rdelected MPs
have less than 35% Votes polled (against number of Electors).
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Photo GalleryElections 2004
Officials at distribution center Officials checking EVMs and
polling materials
Officials carrying EVMs and
pollingmaterials
A group of Villagers with EPI
cardsOfficials carrying EVMsand pollingmaterials
Electors going to exercise their
FranchiseAn Elector familiarizing himself
regarding
functioning of EVM
h ll l i
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Photo GalleryElections 2004
An elder on way to cast hervote
Electors waiting in Q Indelible ink being markedon electors finger
Physically challenged
casting her voteChief Election
Commissioner casting
his vote
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
Honble President of India
after casting his vote
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Thanks
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