Election Process in India

When we say “election process,” we mean the step-by-step journey through which India, the world’s largest democracy, chooses its representatives.

Think of it like a long relay race — starting from the announcement of elections to the final declaration of results. Every stage has constitutional backing and strict procedure to ensure free and fair elections.

⚙️ Time and Schedule of Elections

(a) Time of Elections

• Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies have a five-year term.
• Elections are held every five years — unless dissolved earlier.

🪙 If dissolved early:

• The President can dissolve the Lok Sabha before five years, if:
  1. The Government loses majority in the Lok Sabha, and
  2. No alternative government can be formed.

This happened, for example, in 1979, 1991, and 1999 — when early elections were held.

(b) Schedule of Elections

• When the five-year term ends (or the House is dissolved early), the Election Commission (ECI) activates the election machinery.
• Constitutional rule: There can be no gap of more than six months between the dissolution of the previous House and the first sitting of the new one.
  → Hence, elections must be concluded within 6 months.
• The Election Commission announces the election schedule — usually through a national press conference.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force immediately after the announcement.

🪧 Formal Process of Elections

The formal process begins with the issue of the election notification by the President (for Lok Sabha) or Governor (for State Assemblies).

Steps after Notification:

Stage	Description
1. Filing of Nominations	Candidates file their nomination papers in the constituency.
2. Scrutiny of Nominations	Returning Officer (RO) checks if the papers are valid; invalid nominations can be rejected after a summary hearing.
3. Withdrawal of Candidature	Validly nominated candidates can withdraw within two days after scrutiny.
4. Publication of Final List	The final list of contesting candidates is published by the RO.

🪙 Oath or Affirmation

Before contesting, every candidate must make and subscribe an oath or affirmation before an officer authorised by the Election Commission (usually the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer).

• This must be done immediately after filing nomination papers or before the day of scrutiny.
• Without this oath, the nomination is invalid.

📢 Election Campaign and Model Code of Conduct

Once nominations close, begins the campaigning phase — the most visible part of Indian democracy.

Election Campaign

• Political parties present their manifestos — detailing promises, priorities, and criticisms of rivals.
• Campaigning typically lasts two weeks, and legally ends 48 hours before polling (the “silence period”).

Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

• A set of ethical guidelines evolved by the Election Commission with consensus of political parties.
• It ensures:
  1. A level playing field among all parties.
  2. No misuse of official machinery by the ruling party.
  3. No inflammatory speeches or communal appeals.

💡 Example:
Once MCC comes into effect, no new policy decisions, inaugurations, or major government advertisements are allowed.

🗳️ Polling Days

• Polling is conducted on different days across states to allow adequate movement of security forces and polling personnel.
• This also ensures law and order can be effectively maintained.
• Each phase is closely monitored by observers and media for transparency.

🪶 Ballot Papers, Symbols, and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

(a) Ballot Papers and Symbols

• After finalising candidates, the RO prepares a list and prints ballot papers with:
  • Candidates’ names (in regional languages)
  • Allotted election symbols

👉 Recognised political parties get their reserved symbols, while independent candidates or unrecognised parties get symbols from a “free list.”

(b) Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

Since 1998, EVMs have gradually replaced paper ballots.
By 2004, all Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were conducted entirely using EVMs.

Advantages of EVMs

✅ Eliminates invalid votes — no confusion or wrongly marked ballots.
⚡ Speeds up counting — results in hours, not days.
🌿 Eco-friendly — saves paper, reduces printing cost.
💰 Cost-effective — only one ballot paper per polling station required.

💡 Fun Fact:
In 2019 general elections, over 10 lakh EVMs were used across 10 lakh polling stations — a global record!

🗝️ Voting Procedure

Voting in India follows the principle of secret ballot — ensuring complete confidentiality.

At the Polling Station:

1. Voter’s name is verified on the electoral roll.
2. Voter shows ID (EPIC or approved document).
3. Indelible ink is applied on the left forefinger.
4. Voter is issued a voter slip.
5. Presiding Officer activates the EVM control unit.
6. Voter presses the button corresponding to their preferred candidate’s symbol — and the vote is instantly recorded.

Each polling station:

• Usually handles no more than 1200 voters.
• Is located within 2 km radius of every voter’s residence, ensuring accessibility.

👁️ Supervision and Transparency Measures

(a) Observers

The Election Commission deploys:

• General Observers → Oversee conduct of polls.
• Expenditure Observers → Monitor candidates’ spending.
• Police Observers → Supervise law and order and force deployment.

(b) Media Coverage

The Election Commission encourages media coverage to maintain transparency but ensures secrecy of voting is not compromised.

• Accredited media persons get special passes for:
  • Polling stations
  • Counting centres

Opinion and Exit Polls:

• Opinion polls → Allowed before polling begins, but cannot be published within 48 hours of polling start.
• Exit polls → Can be published only after the final phase of polling ends.

🧮 Counting of Votes

After polling ends:

1. EVMs are sealed and taken to counting centres under security.
2. Counting is supervised by the Returning Officer and Observers.
3. The candidate with the highest number of votes is declared elected.

This system is called the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system —
👉 whoever gets the maximum votes wins, even if not an absolute majority.

🗳️ Example:
If Candidate A gets 40%, B gets 35%, and C gets 25%,
Candidate A wins the seat — because A is “first past the post.”

(a) Lok Sabha and State Assembly Elections

• Both follow the same system:
  • The country or state is divided into single-member constituencies,
  • Each voter casts one vote,
  • Candidate with the most votes wins.

(b) Completion of Election

After results:

• ECI prepares and publishes the official list of elected members.
• A notification is issued for the constitution of the new House.
• Then, the President (Lok Sabha) or Governor (State Assembly) convenes the first session.

✅ With this, the election process is officially complete.

⚖️ Election Petitions and Disputes

• If any candidate or voter believes there has been malpractice or irregularity, they can file an election petition.
• These are tried by the High Court of the concerned State.
• If the petition is upheld:
  • The election may be set aside, and
  • A re-election may be ordered.

💡 Key point:
Election petitions are not ordinary civil suits — they involve the integrity of the democratic process in the entire constituency.

🧠 Summary Table: The Election Process at a Glance

Stage	Key Activity	Authority Involved
1. Announcement	Election schedule declared	Election Commission of India
2. Notification	Official call for elections	President / Governor
3. Nomination & Scrutiny	Candidates file papers; scrutiny follows	Returning Officer
4. Campaigning	Parties canvass support; MCC in force	Political parties under EC supervision
5. Polling	Voting at polling stations using EVMs	Presiding Officer & polling staff
6. Counting	Votes counted under supervision	Returning Officer & Observers
7. Declaration	Winning candidate declared	Election Commission / RO
8. Constitution of House	New Lok Sabha or Assembly notified	President / Governor

🧩 Analytical Insight: Essence of India’s Election Process

The Indian electoral process reflects three democratic strengths:

1. Scale:
   Over 900 million voters and millions of polling officials — world’s largest democratic exercise.
2. System:
   Transparent, phased, and technologically advanced (EVMs, VVPATs, digital rolls).
3. Spirit:
   Despite challenges — money, muscle, misinformation — people’s faith in the ballot remains intact.

🏁 Concluding Perspective

“Elections are not merely about choosing a government, they are a celebration of the people’s will.”

Thus, India’s electoral process — from notification to counting — is a living example of how democracy thrives through continuous participation, accountability, and trust in institutions like the Election Commission of India.