Elections and Election Commission — TNPSC Group II/IIA Polity
Overview
Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of Indian democracy. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the constitutional body responsible for conducting elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President. For TNPSC Group 2/2A, focus on ECI composition and powers, electoral process, EVMs, and electoral reforms.
Election Commission of India (Article 324)
Constitutional Status
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Article | Article 324 |
| Established | January 25, 1950 |
| Nature | Constitutional body — permanent, independent |
| January 25 | National Voters' Day |
| Headquarters | Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi |
Composition
| Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Chief Election Commissioner | Head of ECI; security of tenure |
| Election Commissioners | 2 currently (as per President's direction) |
| Appointed by | President of India |
| Removal of CEC | Only by impeachment — same as SC judge; 2/3rd majority + majority of total membership |
| Removal of Election Commissioners | On CEC's recommendation |
| Term | No fixed term; typically retire at 65 |
First CEC: Sukumar Sen (1950–1958) T.N. Seshan (1990–1996): Most famous CEC; implemented Model Code of Conduct strictly; "clean elections" drive Current CEC: Rajiv Kumar (2022–)
Powers of ECI
1. Superintendence, direction and control of all elections to Parliament and State Legislatures 2. Prepares and maintains electoral rolls 3. Conducts elections and announces results 4. Recognises political parties; allots election symbols 5. Model Code of Conduct implementation 6. Can postpone elections, void results, order re-polls 7. Advises on disqualification of MPs and MLAs
Electoral Process
Electoral Rolls (Voter Lists)
- Prepared by ECI; updated continuously
- Every Indian citizen above 18 registered in voter list of their constituency
- EPIC (Electoral Photo Identity Card) — Voter ID
- Enrolment: Can register online or offline; Form 6 for new voters
- National Voters' Day: January 25 (ECI founding date)
Delimitation
- Constituencies are redrawn periodically to reflect population changes
- Done by Delimitation Commission appointed by President
- Parliament froze delimitation after 2001 census till 2026 (except some states)
Election Schedule
- Announced by ECI: notification → nomination → withdrawal → polling → counting → result
- Election schedule announcement triggers Model Code of Conduct
Electronic Voting Machines (EVM)
History of EVMs in India
| Event | Year |
|---|---|
| First use (experimental) | Kerala (60 constituencies), 1982 |
| Nationwide use | 2004 General Elections |
| VVPAT introduced | Nagaland by-election, 2013; nationwide 2019 |
How EVM Works
EVM components:
- Control Unit (CU): With Presiding Officer; records votes; has result button
- Balloting Unit (BU): With voter; has candidate buttons
- Maximum 64 candidates per BU (expandable by linking units)
- Battery-operated; not connected to internet
VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail):
- Connected to EVM balloting unit
- Shows voter's selection for 7 seconds on screen
- Paper slip falls into sealed transparent container
- Allows post-election verification if disputed
Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
What It Contains
- No new policy announcements (use of government for party benefit)
- No use of government machinery for campaigning
- No bribery or inducements to voters
- Respectful campaigning; no religious/caste appeals
- Government funds/programmes cannot be used in campaign
- Polling day to be peaceful; no exit polls until last phase voting ends
Enforcement
- Not a statutory law — enforced by ECI's moral authority and threat of cancellation of results
- ECI can initiate action against violations
- T.N. Seshan's strict enforcement in 1990s transformed Indian elections
Electoral Reforms
Key Reforms
| Reform | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Voting age reduced | 1989 (61st Amendment) | 21 to 18 years |
| Compulsory audit of party accounts | 1979 | Transparency in party finances |
| Prohibition of booth capturing | 1989 | Criminal offence |
| Candidate disclosure of criminal record | 2003 | SC order; mandatory affidavit |
| NRI voting rights | 2010 | NRIs can vote in their registered constituency |
| Postal ballot for service voters | Ongoing | Armed forces can vote by post |
| NOTA | 2013 | "None of the Above" option on EVM |
| Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots (ETPB) | 2016 | For service voters overseas |
NOTA (None of the Above)
- Introduced by Supreme Court in 2013 (PUCL case)
- Voters can choose "None of the Above" if not satisfied with any candidate
- If NOTA gets most votes, no effect — candidate with second-most votes wins (NOTA doesn't win)
2024 Electoral Bonds (Struck Down)
- Electoral Bonds introduced for political funding (2018)
- Supreme Court struck them down in February 2024 — violated right to information
Types of Elections in India
| Election | Frequency | Conducted by |
|---|---|---|
| General Elections (Lok Sabha) | Every 5 years | ECI |
| State Legislative Assembly | Every 5 years | ECI |
| Rajya Sabha (partial) | Every 2 years (1/3rd seats) | ECI |
| Presidential Election | Every 5 years | ECI |
| Vice-Presidential Election | Every 5 years | ECI |
| By-elections | As needed | ECI |
| Panchayati Raj Elections | Every 5 years | State Election Commission |
| Urban local body elections | Every 5 years | State Election Commission |
Disqualification of MPs and MLAs
Constitutional Provisions
| Ground | Article |
|---|---|
| Holding office of profit | Articles 102/191 |
| Unsound mind | Articles 102/191 |
| Undischarged insolvent | Articles 102/191 |
| Not a citizen | Articles 102/191 |
| Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection) | Articles 102/191 |
| RPA (conviction for offences) | Representation of People Act 1951 |
Representation of People Act 1951 (RPA):
- Conviction for offences with 2+ years imprisonment → disqualification for 6 years after release
- Lily Thomas v. Union of India (2013): SC held convicted MPs/MLAs disqualified immediately
Key Facts for TNPSC Group II/IIA
- ECI established: January 25, 1950 — National Voters' Day
- Article 324: Constitutional basis of ECI
- CEC: Removed only by impeachment (like Supreme Court judge) — ensures independence
- First CEC: Sukumar Sen; T.N. Seshan made MCC strict; Current CEC: Rajiv Kumar
- Voting age reduced from 21 to 18 years by 61st Amendment (1988)
- EVM first used nationally: 2004 General Elections
- VVPAT introduced nationally: 2019 General Elections
- NOTA option available since 2013 on EVMs
- Model Code of Conduct: No statutory backing; enforced by ECI's authority
- Delimitation Commission: Redraws constituencies; Parliament has frozen it till 2026 based on 2001 census
Previous Year MCQ Patterns
Q: The Election Commission of India was established on: a) January 26, 1950 b) January 25, 1950 c) August 15, 1947 d) November 26, 1949
Q: The voting age in India was reduced from 21 to 18 years by which constitutional amendment? a) 44th Amendment b) 52nd Amendment c) 61st Amendment d) 73rd Amendment
Q: NOTA option on EVMs was introduced following a Supreme Court order in which year? a) 2009 b) 2011 c) 2013 d) 2015