Short blog series (part55) Elections in India
- Manyanshi Joshi
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Elections in India are a pretty big and carefully run operation—actually the largest democratic exercise in the world. Here’s a clear, step-by-step picture of how they’re held 🇮🇳
1. Who conducts the elections?
Elections are conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).It’s an independent constitutional body, meaning the government can’t interfere with how elections are run.
2. Types of elections in India
India holds several kinds of elections:
Lok Sabha elections (national parliament)
State Legislative Assembly elections
Rajya Sabha elections (indirect)
Presidential & Vice-Presidential elections
Local body elections (panchayats & municipalities)
Most people directly vote in Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.
3. Who can vote?
To vote, a person must:
Be an Indian citizen
Be 18 years or older
Be registered in the electoral roll
Have a Voter ID (EPIC) or approved ID
Voting is a fundamental right.
4. Constituencies
India is divided into constituencies:
Each Lok Sabha constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP)
Each State Assembly constituency elects one MLA
The candidate with the highest number of votes wins (first-past-the-post system).
5. Election schedule & Model Code of Conduct
The ECI announces election dates.
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force.
It restricts misuse of government machinery
Controls speeches, advertisements, and campaigning
6. Filing nominations
Candidates:
File nomination papers
Must meet eligibility criteria
Pay a security deposit
Declare criminal records, assets, and liabilities
Nominations are scrutinized and finalized.
7. Campaigning
Parties and candidates campaign through rallies, ads, social media, door-to-door visits, etc.
Campaigning ends 48 hours before voting (called the “silence period”).
8. Voting process
Voting is done using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with VVPAT (paper trail).
Voters:
Verify their name
Ink is applied on the finger
Press a button for their chosen candidate
See a VVPAT slip confirming the vote
Voting is secret and secure.
9. Counting of votes
Votes are counted on a fixed date.
EVMs are opened in the presence of candidates’ representatives.
Results are declared constituency-wise.
10. Formation of government
The party or coalition with majority seats forms the government.
In Lok Sabha:
Majority = 272 out of 543 seats
The President appoints the Prime Minister
11. Ensuring fairness
The ECI ensures:
Free and fair elections
Security forces deployment
Observers in sensitive areas
Action against violations
Here’s a summary of the recent election reforms and changes in India’s electoral process — focusing on what has been introduced, piloted, or debated in the last year or so:
📌 1. New Voter-Friendly Reforms by the Election Commission (ECI)
🗳️ 21-23 Initiatives to Improve Voting Experience
The Election Commission of India (ECI), under the new Chief Election Commissioner (Gyanesh Kumar), launched a series of reforms to modernize elections, including: ETGovernment.com+1
✔️ Reduce maximum voters per polling station: Lowered from 1,500 to 1,200 voters per booth to reduce crowding and wait time. ETGovernment.com
✔️ More polling stations: Especially in gated communities and vertical housing areas so voters don’t have to travel too far. ETGovernment.com
✔️ Improved voter information: Redesigned voter slips with clearer numbering and details. ETGovernment.com
✔️ Mobile deposit facility: A new system to securely store mobile phones and other belongings at the entrance of polling stations, reducing unauthorized recordings and promoting order. ETGovernment.com
✔️ Booth setup changes: Party or candidate booths can now be placed 100 m (down from 200 m) from polling station entrances — helping voters more easily reach assistance points. ETGovernment.com
✔️ Single integrated dashboard (ECINET):Consolidates over 40 apps and services into one platform for election services and data access. ETGovernment.com
✔️ Training & capacity building: Structured training for police, BLOs (Booth Level Officers), and other stakeholders, improving preparedness and uniform procedures. ETGovernment.com
🗳️ 2. Administrative and Internal Reforms
The ECI has also rolled out internal management and governance reforms: The Sunday Guardian
🔹 Postal ballot counting: Rules changed so postal ballots are counted earlier in the process, improving transparency. The Sunday Guardian
🔹 E-verification for forms: Online verification for forms like Form 7 (address update/removal requests) has been introduced. The Sunday Guardian
🔹 New standard protocols: Technical SOPs for verifying EVM microcontrollers and standardized ID cards for election staff. The Sunday Guardian
🔹 Party list cleanup: Hundreds of inactive or non-compliant political parties were delisted to reduce clutter on ballots. The Sunday Guardian
📊 3. Voter Roll Revision (SIR)
A major ongoing process is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a massive cleanup and digitization effort: The Economic Times+1
✔️ Cleaning up rolls: Millions of names (e.g., 6.5 crore deletions nationwide) have been removed to improve accuracy. The Economic Times
✔️ Digitization: Some states like Rajasthan have completed 100 % digitization of voter lists, making records easier to update and verify. The Times of India
📌 Note: The SIR process has also triggered political debate about possible disenfranchisement and concerns over implementation transparency. The Guardian
📱 4. Mobile & Digital Innovations (State Level)
Certain states have piloted tech-driven voting options:
📍 Mobile e-voting pilot (Bihar 2025):Bihar became the first state to introduce mobile voting in municipal bypolls for specific groups like senior citizens and pregnant women, using secure apps and authentication. Wikipedia
This pilot was seen as a test for broader digital voting possibilities.
🧑⚖️ 5. Parliamentary & Political Debate on Reforms
There has been discussion and criticism in Parliament about the direction of electoral reform — including transparency in appointment of election commissioners, use of technology like CCTV, and the pace/impact of roll revisions. NDTV India
Opposition leaders have called for stronger, transparent reform frameworks and safeguards in the electoral process.
📌 Summary: Key Focus Areas of Recent Reforms
Area of Reform | Examples |
Voter convenience | Lower booth quota, mobile deposits, more booths |
Tech & digital tools | ECINET dashboard, mobile e-voting pilot |
Roll accuracy | SIR and digitization of voter lists |
Administrative processes | New counting rules, training, SOPs |
Transparency debates | Parliamentary discussions, accountability concerns |
Conclusion on Elections in India
Elections in India are the backbone of the country’s democratic system. They give citizens the power to choose their representatives and hold governments accountable. Conducted by the independent Election Commission of India, elections are largely free, fair, and inclusive, even in a country with vast diversity, a huge population, and challenging geography.
Over the years, India has strengthened its electoral process through reforms such as the use of EVMs with VVPAT, improved voter services, stricter monitoring of campaigns, and recent efforts to clean and digitize electoral rolls. While concerns and debates around transparency, money power, and voter participation continue, these discussions themselves reflect a healthy democracy.
Overall, elections in India demonstrate the strength and resilience of democratic values. Despite challenges, the regular conduct of peaceful elections ensures that the voice of the people remains central to governance and the functioning of the Indian state.
Thanks for reading!!!!!
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