Election Commission and Electoral

Reforms
JYOTI
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
PGGC-11
Chandigarh
 Composition of the Election Commission
 Multiple Member Election Commission
 Regional Commissioners
 Appointment and Tenure
 Qualification
 Removal of Commissioners
 Emoluments
 System of working of Election Commission
Function and Role of Election
commission
 Superintendence, Direction and control of Elections
 Preparation of Electoral Rolls
 Delimitation of the Constituencies
 Allotment of Election Symbols
 Recognition and Derecognition of Political Parties
 Model code of Conduct
 Registration of Political Parties
 To conduct elections to State Legislatures
 To conduct elections to Parliament
 To conduct elections of the President and Vice-President
 Decision regarding Disqualification of Members
 Countermanding of the Elections
 Issuing of Directions
 To declare the Candidate Ineligible for contesting Elections
 Miscellaneous Functions
Critical Evaluation
 Absence of the Obligatory Constitutional Provision in
respect of the multi-membership of the Commission
 Qualifications of Chief Election Commissioner and Election
Commissioners not fixed
 Defective Provision of the removal of Election
Commissioners
 Improper Provisions of Decision-making in Election
Commission
 Lack of Clear-cut Provision about the Powers of the
Commission
Importance of Election Commission

 The basic Agency for the conduct of Indian Democracy

 A Body regulate the functioning of Political Parties
 An Institution to protect Electoral Politics from Political
pollution
 A check on the Government
 A Constitutional Body responsible for free and fare elections
Independence of Election Commission
 Constitutional Sanction
 Rigid Method for the Removal of election commissioner
 Condition of Service not to be changed

Suggestions to ensure the independence of the Election

Commission
Features of Indian Electoral System
 Election Commission
 Election Machinery at State headquarters
 Election Machinery in the District
 General elections, Mid-Term Election and By-Election
 Universal Adult Franchise
 Qualifications and Disqualifications
 Direct election
 Single Member constituencies
 Joint Electoral System
 Secret Ballot
 Reservation of Seats
 Two Types of Candidates
 The Delimitation Commission
 Simple Majority System
 Election Petition
Defects of the Indian Electoral System
 The Distortion of Seat-Vote ratio
 Too Many Political Parties
 Independent Candidates
 Influence of Money
 Corrupt Practice
 Misuse of Official Machinery
 Problem of Impersonation
 No Age Limit for contestants
 Faulty Electoral Rolls
 Low Percentage of Voting
 Rigging of Elections and Use of Violence
 Delay in Disposal of Election Petitions
 Wide Gap between Votes Polled and Seats Won
 Misuse of Administrative Machinery
 Committed Election Officers
 Change in the Boundaries of Constituencies
 Excessive number of Candidates
 Very Expensive Elections
 To Seek Support on the basis of caste, religion and Language
Reforms in the Indian Electoral System
 Change in Election System
 Manner of Appointment of Election Commissioners
 Revision of Limit of Election Expenses
 Auditing of Election Expenses
 State funding of Election expenses
 Check on the misuse of Government Machinery
 Simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative
Assemblies
 Proper Use of Radio and Television
 Quick Disposal of Election Petitions
 Compulsory Voting
 Restriction on Independent Candidates