EVM By: BRCM Vidyagram

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ELECTION IN INDIA 2014

WHY DO WE NEED ELECTIONS?

Let us try to imagine a democracy without elections. A rule of people is possible without any elections if all the people can sit together everyday and take all the decisions. But, this is not possible in any large community. Nor it is possible for everyone to have the time and knowledge to take decisions on all matters. Therefore in most democracies people rule through their representatives.

WHY DO WE NEED ELECTIONS?

Let us try to imagine a democracy without elections. A rule of people is possible without any elections if all the people can sit together everyday and take all the decisions. But, this is not possible in any large community. Nor it is possible for everyone to have the time and knowledge to take decisions on all matters. Therefore in most democracies people rule through their representatives.

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When Elections take place?When Elections take place?

• Term of Parliament & Assembly - 5years (except J & K Assembly where it is 6 years).

• Dates decided by the Commission. No consultation done with any Government.

• Commission can call for elections six months prior to the date on which normal tenure of Assembly or Parliament expires.

• Bye-elections when a seat falls vacant. Normally held within 6-months of vacancy. No Bye-elections if vacancy for less than one year.

• Term of Parliament & Assembly - 5years (except J & K Assembly where it is 6 years).

• Dates decided by the Commission. No consultation done with any Government.

• Commission can call for elections six months prior to the date on which normal tenure of Assembly or Parliament expires.

• Bye-elections when a seat falls vacant. Normally held within 6-months of vacancy. No Bye-elections if vacancy for less than one year.

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Who can Contest?Who can Contest?

• Any citizen over 25 years for Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha

• Any citizen over 30 years for Rajya sabha & Vidhan Parishad

• 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 valid votes

• Any citizen over 25 years for Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha

• Any citizen over 30 years for Rajya sabha & Vidhan Parishad

• 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 valid votes

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Right to VoteRight to Vote

• Any citizen over 18 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

• Any citizen over 18 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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Time and mode of election campaigns…..

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.

• 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.

Women ParticipationWomen Participation

• No specific law for reservation of seats as yet

• Political parties expected to put up women candidates in reasonable numbers

• Separate Q for women voters.• At least one lady officer posted in every

polling station• Lady officer alone can see and verify

“pardhanasheen” ladies ( Ladies wearing veils).

• No specific law for reservation of seats as yet

• Political parties expected to put up women candidates in reasonable numbers

• Separate Q for women voters.• At least one lady officer posted in every

polling station• Lady officer alone can see and verify

“pardhanasheen” ladies ( Ladies wearing veils).

Limits on Poll Expenses - ILimits on Poll Expenses - I

Limits 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 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

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ObserversObservers

• 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

2014• All counting centers covered

• 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

2014• All counting centers covered

Interesting Facts of Politics….. Interesting Facts of Politics…..

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 2/3rd elected MPs have less than 35% Votes polled (against number of Electors).

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 2/3rd elected MPs have less than 35% Votes polled (against number of Electors).

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Electoral ReformsElectoral 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

• 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

Features OF Electronic Voting Machine

Features OF Electronic Voting Machine

• Centres around state-of-the-art microprocessor with built-in PROM storing the software code which cannot be retrieved or altered

• Reliable, robust and error free software

• Legacy software with machine codes used to preserve integrity and security

• Portable and easy to operate

• Centres around state-of-the-art microprocessor with built-in PROM storing the software code which cannot be retrieved or altered

• Reliable, robust and error free software

• Legacy software with machine codes used to preserve integrity and security

• Portable and easy to operate

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Election Machinery in StatesElection Machinery in States

• Chief Electoral Officers – 35• District Election Officers – 601• Returning Officers (Parliament) – 543• Returning Officers (Assembly) – 4120• Asstt. Returning Officers (Parliament) –

4600• Asstt. Returning Officers (Assembly) –

10,000 • Electoral Registration Officers – 4120• Asstt. Electoral Registration Officers -

4800

• Chief Electoral Officers – 35• District Election Officers – 601• Returning Officers (Parliament) – 543• Returning Officers (Assembly) – 4120• Asstt. Returning Officers (Parliament) –

4600• Asstt. Returning Officers (Assembly) –

10,000 • Electoral Registration Officers – 4120• Asstt. Electoral Registration Officers -

4800

EVM(ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE

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Photo Gallery – ElectionsPhoto Gallery – Elections

Officials at distribution center

Officials checking EVMs and polling materials

Officials carrying EVMs and

polling materials

A group of Villagers with EPI cards Officials carrying EVMs

and polling materials

Electors going to exercise

their Franchise An Elector familiarizing

himself regarding functioning of EVM

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Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

An elder on way to cast her vote

Electors waiting in Q Indelible ink being marked on elector’s finger

Physically challenged casting

her vote

Chief Election Commissioner

casting his vote

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Hon’ble President of India after casting his

vote

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PRESENTED BY:

SHRADDHA HOUSE

Prepared By: Mstr. Aakash JanghuMstr. Yogesh Gujjar