How India votes — adult franchise, the Election Commission, voter registration, EVMs and delimitation — is part of the civics topics in the Social Science section of the AISSEE (Sainik School) Class 9 paper and the RMS CET. This guide explains the electoral system step by step, with a revision table at the end.
1. Universal Adult Franchise & Legal Status of Voting
Universal Adult Suffrage (Article 326): Every Indian citizen aged 18 or above has the right to vote in Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, unless lawfully disqualified.
No Discrimination (Article 325): One common electoral roll for each constituency; no one can be included or excluded on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.
Statutory Right: The right to vote is not a Fundamental Right. In Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006), a 5-judge Constitution Bench held that the "right to elect" is a statutory right under Section 62 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951.
Equal Representation: Elections follow the principle of "one person, one vote, one value".
2. The Election Commission of India (ECI)
Constitutional Basis (Article 324): The ECI supervises, directs and controls the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.
Structure & Appointments: The ECI has a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs). Under the 2023 Act, the President appoints them on the recommendation of a 3-member Selection Committee: the Prime Minister (Chairperson), a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Removal of the CEC (Article 324(5)): The CEC can be removed only in the same way and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge — proved misbehaviour or incapacity. The motion needs the signatures of at least 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs, an inquiry by a 3-member committee, and a special majority in both Houses. Other Election Commissioners can be removed by the President only on the CEC's recommendation.
Control over Election Staff (Section 13CC, RPA 1950): All election officials — Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and others — are treated as on deputation to the ECI and work under its control and discipline.
3. Electoral Rolls & Voter Registration
New Voter Registration (Form 6): Citizens aged 18+ register as new voters, or after changing residence, using Form 6 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Special Intensive Revision (SIR): Under Article 324 and Sections 21(2) and 21(3) of the RPA 1950, the ECI carries out special revisions — with door-to-door checks — to remove duplicate, shifted or deceased entries from voter lists.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs): Visit homes to verify voter details and process forms, helped by party-nominated Booth Level Agents (BLAs).
Identity Documents: Voters receive an Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC). Aadhaar is accepted as a supporting identity document, but it is not proof of citizenship.
4. Conduct of Elections, EVMs & Security
EVM Handling: The movement and handling of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs follow the ECI's Manual on EVMs, 2023. EVMs are managed by the District Election Officer and allotted by computer randomisation in front of party representatives.
Strongrooms: After polling, EVMs are sealed in front of candidates' agents and kept in strongrooms with a double-lock system and a 24×7 armed guard.
Totaliser: A device developed by BEL (Bengaluru) and ECIL (Hyderabad) that combines votes from about 14 EVMs before counting, so that booth-wise voting patterns stay secret and voters cannot be targeted.
Model Code of Conduct (MCC): Guidelines that apply once elections are announced, to keep a level playing field — for example, governments cannot announce new schemes or make transfers that could influence voters.
5. Political Parties & Symbols
Registration of Parties: Political parties register under Section 29A of the RPA, 1951. Registered parties that are not recognised as National or State parties are called Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs).
Election Symbols: Allotted under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. Recognised parties get Reserved Symbols; independent candidates choose from Free Symbols. Under Para 15 of the Order, the ECI decides which group keeps a party's name and symbol when a party splits.
6. Delimitation & Representation
Delimitation (Article 82): Fixing the number and boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies. After a Census, Parliament passes a Delimitation Act to set up a Delimitation Commission.
Composition of the Lok Sabha (Article 81): To avoid penalising states that controlled population growth, the number of seats per state is frozen on the basis of the 1971 Census; boundaries within states were last redrawn using 2001 Census data.
7. Quick Revision Summary Table
Concept | Legal Basis | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
Universal Adult Suffrage | Article 326 | Voting right for all citizens aged 18+ |
Legal Status of Voting | Section 62, RPA 1951 | A statutory right (Kuldip Nayar case, 2006) |
Control of Elections | Article 324 | Election Commission of India |
Removal of CEC | Articles 324(5) & 124(4) | Same as a Supreme Court judge (special majority) |
New Voter Registration | Form 6 (1960 Rules) | Form for new voters aged 18+ |
Roll Revision | RPA 1950, Sec 21(2) & 21(3) | Special Intensive Revision (SIR) |
Party Registration | Section 29A, RPA 1951 | Registering political parties / RUPPs |
Symbols | Symbols Order, 1968 | Reserved and free symbols; Para 15 split disputes |
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