< Previous | Contents | Next >
The electoral process begins with the preparation of electoral rolls. If the rolls are incomplete or defective, the whole electoral process is vitiated. Article 325 provides for a general electoral roll for every territorial constituency for election to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House of the Legislature of a State. No person can be excluded from inclusion in any such roll or claim to be included in any special electoral roll on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or any of them.
At present, the Election Commission (EC) is responsible for preparing the electoral rolls for assembly and parliamentary constituencies. The State Election Commissions are responsible for electoral rolls for local body elections. In some States, the EC and State Election Commissions (SECs) have agreed to coordinate the preparation of electoral rolls.
The electoral roll for a constituency contains the names of all the persons eligible to vote at an election in that constituency. Unless otherwise directed by the Election Commission, the roll is revised before each general election, by-election or mid-term election in a constituency. It may also be revised in any year if so directed by the Election Commission.
General Election | Election to constitute a new Lok Sabha or Assembly upon completion of the term of the previously constituted body is called General Election. |
By-Election | If at any time there is a mid-term vacancy due to the death or resignation of a member either in Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly only one seat falls vacant. The election for that seat is known as by- election. |
Mid-term Election | If the Lok Sabha or State Assembly is dissolved before completion of five years and the election is held to constitute new Lok Sabha or new State Assembly, etc. is called midterm election. |
In a Union territory where there is no Legislative Assembly, rolls are prepared and revised separately for the parliamentary constituencies. Any person whose name is not included in the electoral roll of a constituency may get his name included by making an application to the electoral registration officer of the constituency concerned.
There are two methods of revising the electoral rolls:
1. Intensive revision: Intensive revision is carried out by house to house visits by enumerators who enter the names of all citizens ordinarily residing in a house and who have attained the age of 18 years and above on the qualifying date.
2. Summary Revision: In summary revision, no house to house visits are made. The existing rolls with supplements, if any, are published for inviting claims and objections. After the disposal of claims and objections the rolls are finally published with supplements.