3.3. Electoral Rolls for Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies

The RPA, 1950 provides for the preparation, correction and revision of Electoral rolls for both parliamentary and legislative assembly constituencies. Besides it also has provisions for Council constituencies.

♤ Assembly Constituencies: The RPA, 1950 specifies that for every assembly constituency, there shall be an electoral roll which shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions of this Act under the superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission.

♤ Parliamentary Constituencies: The electoral roll for every parliamentary constituency, other than a parliamentary constituency in a Union territory not having a Legislative Assembly, shall consist of the electoral rolls for all the assembly constituencies comprised within that parliamentary constituency. It shall not be necessary to prepare or revise separately the electoral roll for any such parliamentary constituency.

The electoral roll for each constituency is prepared in the prescribed manner and comes into force immediately upon its final publication in accordance with the rules made under RPA, 1950. This electoral roll:

(a) shall, unless otherwise directed by the Election Commission, be revised in the prescribed manner by reference to the qualifying date

a. before each general election to the House of the People or to the Legislative Assembly of a State; and

b. before each bye-election to fill a casual vacancy in a seat allotted to the constituency;

(b) shall be revised in any year, if such revision has been directed by the Election Commission.

If the electoral roll is not revised, the validity or continued operation of the previous electoral roll shall not be affected. Besides, the Election Commission may direct a special revision of the electoral roll for any constituency or part of a constituency at any time in such manner as it thinks fit.