Election Commission of India, Composition, Constitutional Provision

Election Commission of India (ECI) plays a crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections in the world's largest democracy. Established under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution , the ECI is responsible for administering election processes at both the national and state levels.

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Election Commission of India

Constitutional Provision of Election Commission

Structure of the Election Commission

• Chief Election Commissioner (CEC): The head of the Commission who holds the highest authority in electoral matters.
• Two Election Commissioners (ECs) : They assist the CEC in carrying out the functions of the Election Commission.

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Tenure and Removal of Election Commission of India

Tenure

Removal

Election Commission of India and 75 Years of Upholding Democracy

Highlights of the 15th National Voters’ Day

Celebrations and Events

National Voters Day 2025

Salary of Election Commission of India

Role & Function of Election Commission

• Conducting Elections: The ECI is responsible for administering elections to the Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.
• Preparing and Updating Electoral Rolls: The ECI ensures that electoral rolls are accurate and up-to-date to prevent voter fraud and duplication.
• Model Code of Conduct: It lays down the Model Code of Conduct to regulate political parties' behavior during elections, ensuring fair competition.
• Political Party Registration: The ECI registers political parties, allot election symbols, and monitors their finances and campaign expenses.
• Supervision of Election Machinery: The ECI oversees the functioning of election officials, ensuring they conduct their duties impartially.
• Voter Education: It promotes voter awareness programs like Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) to increase electoral participation.
• Quasi-Judicial Functions: The Election Commission resolves disputes over political party recognition and election symbols and appoints officers to investigate electoral-related disputes.
• Advisory Functions: The Election Commission advises the President on disqualifications of Parliament members, the Governor on disqualifications of State Legislature members, and the President on holding elections in a State under the President’s Rule.

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Power of Election Commission

• Supervision and Control: The ECI has the authority to supervise the election machinery, ensuring that it functions independently.
• Code of Conduct Enforcement: It can issue directives to ensure adherence to the Model Code of Conduct by political parties.
• Election Scheduling: The ECI has the power to determine election dates and the order of polls across states.
• Reprimand and Disqualification : The ECI can reprimand candidates or disqualify them if they violate electoral laws such as failure to provide an account of their election expenses.
• Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies : The ECI collaborates with various law enforcement agencies to ensure a secure environment for elections, tackling issues such as electoral violence and voter intimidation.

Limitations of the Election Commission

• No Power to Punish: The ECI can only recommend actions against candidates or parties that violate laws. It does not have the power to directly impose punishments.
• Dependence on Government Machinery: The ECI relies on the government for resources and personnel to conduct elections, which can sometimes limit its operational efficiency.
• Limited Jurisdiction on Political Funding: While the ECI monitors election expenditures, it has limited power to regulate political funding and donations.
• Electoral Reforms: While the ECI can propose reforms, implementing these reforms often requires the approval of Parliament.
• Lack of Autonomy in Appointments: Since the government appoints Election Commissioners, there can be concerns about bias.

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New Initiatives by Election Commission of India

• Postal Ballot for Absentee Voters: Absentee voters, including essential service workers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, can now opt for postal ballots.
• Online Nomination Data Entry: Candidates can now enter their personal details online for nomination forms via the ECI's Suvidha portal, reducing errors .
• Eco-Friendly Campaigns: Political parties are encouraged to avoid single-use plastics in campaign materials to promote environmental health.
• Four Qualifying Dates for Voter Enrollment: Citizens turning 18 on January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1 can enroll in the electoral roll throughout the year.
• Engaging Young Voters: The ‘Turning 18’ campaign targets young and first-time voters, emphasizing civic responsibility and the importance of voting.
• Recognition of Stakeholders: The ‘You Are The One’ campaign celebrates the contributions of all stakeholders in the electoral process, highlighting their dedication through engaging storytelling.
• Combating Misinformation: The ‘Verify Before You Amplify’ initiative encourages citizens to fact-check information before sharing, combating fake news related to elections.
• Interactive Content: The ECI features engaging content like election stories, word games, and Q&A sessions to educate voters about the electoral process.
• cVIGIL Portal: The cVIGIL Portal is a mobile app by the Election Commission of India that allows citizens to report electoral violations in real-time with multimedia evidence.

State Election Commission

• Conducting Elections: The SEC conducts elections for local bodies (Panchayats, Municipalities) and ensures they are held according to the law.
• Supervising Electoral Rolls: It maintains and updates the electoral rolls for local body elections.
• Election Disputes: The SEC resolves disputes arising from local body elections and has the authority to decide on matters related to the election process.
• Monitoring Election Process: It ensures that elections are conducted in a transparent and free manner, without undue influence or malpractice.
• Appointing Election Officials: The SEC appoints election officials, such as polling officers, for local body elections.
• Advisory Role: It advises the state government on matters related to the electoral process and ensures compliance with laws and regulations related to elections.

UPSC PYQs on Election Commission

UPSC Prelims 2017: Consider the following statements:

1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 only