Theme: Elections

Through the State elections you are electing the Members of the State Legislature who will represent your constituency at the state level. The State Legislature might have an Vidhan Parishad (Upper House) or not, but it always has the Vidhan Sabha (Lower House). ^{(( Chapter III, Part VI, Constitution of India, 1950.))}

Each member of Lower House of a state is elected for 5 years, and each member of Upper House is elected for 6 years.

The number of members of the State Legislature varies across states, depending upon the population in that state. For example, the State Legislature of Uttar Pradesh has a considerably greater number of members than Pudcherry.

Every Indian citizen over the age of 18^{(( Article 326, Constitution of India, 1950.))} has the right to participate and vote in national, state, district as well as local government body elections. You have to register yourself as a voter on the electoral roll of your constituency. To register on the electoral roll you have to ensure that^{(( How to Register a Vote, Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation, available at https://ecisveep.nic.in/))}:

• You are a citizen of India.
• You are above the age of 18 years
• You are mentally fit
• You haven’t been convicted by a court for committing any of the following crimes:
  • Bribery
  • Voting on behalf of someone else
  • Trying to prevent someone from voting by threatening them
  • Inciting or promoting hatred and violence between people
  • Obstructing or destroying election processes/documents

Please follow the steps given below to know how to vote.

Before you go to the polling station, please verify if your name is on the electoral roll of your constituency. You can do that by checking the list here.

 

Indian Resident Voter:

Take your Voter ID card with you to the polling station. If you do not have a Voter ID card, you can take other forms of identification also. But only those that have the same address as the one mentioned in the electoral roll of your constituency/Voter ID card.

NRI Voter ^{(( Overseas Electors, Election Commission of India, available at https://eci.gov.in/faqs/voter-electors/overseas-electors/faqs-overseas-electors-r12/.))}:

Take your passport with you to the polling station.

You will have to wait in line till your turn comes to vote. The women, men and people with disabilities will be allowed to enter separately and only one voter can enter at a time. You will see a notice which is displayed on the polling station building or hall, which gives information regarding:

• The polling area, and the different polling stations with their addresses (if there are more than one).
• List of voters in each polling stations.
• List list of candidates standing for elections.

Inside the Polling Booth

As you enter the polling booth, the First polling officer will verify if you have the valid ID and you are on the electoral roll. Once it is verified that you are a bonafide voter the Second Polling Officer will put an ink mark on your left index finger. This is done to ensure the voting officials of the fact that you have voted and to not allow a person to vote multiple times.

If you do not have a left index finger then watch this video to understand what will be done. If you already have an ink mark on your finger or if you refuse to put the ink mark, then you will not be allowed to vote.

The officer will^{(( Handbook for Presiding Officers, Election Commission of India, available at, https://ceodelhi.gov.in/WriteReadData/HandBooks/Handbook_for_Presiding_Officers.pdf.))}:

• Make a record of your Voter ID Number in Form 17A.
• Ask you to put your thumb impression or signature in a book known as the Register of voters.
• Mark your name on a copy of the electoral roll, thereby permitting you to vote.

After this, you will have to proceed to the voting compartment.

As a voter, you will cast your ballot by using an EVM Machine or Electronic Voting Machine. It is a machine which is operated electronically and helps record votes. ^{(( Section 61A, The Representation of People Act, 1951.))}

Moving to the Voting Compartment^{(( Electronic Voting Machines, Election Commission available at https://eci.gov.in/evm/))}

An Electronic Voting Machine consists of two Units – a Control Unit and a Balloting Unit – joined by a five-meter cable. The Control Unit is kept with the Presiding Officer or a Polling Officer and the Balloting Unit is placed inside the voting compartment, where you vote. The Presiding Officer or the Polling Officer releases the ballot for you so that you can cast your vote,

A list of candidates’ names and symbols will be available with a blue button next to it. You have to press the button next to the name of the candidate’s name that you wish to vote for. If you do not wish to vote for any particular candidate, then you have the option to select the NOTA – None of the Above option in the EVM Machine.

Right after you have voted, you will see a green light on the VVPAT Machine will be placed next to the EVM Machine, which will indicate that you have voted. You will also see a printed slip which is printed containing the serial number, name and symbol of the candidate which you can see through a transparent window for 7 seconds. This printed slip automatically gets cut and falls in the sealed drop box of the VVPAT.

You cannot vote more than once and even if you make a mistake, you cannot undo it. Even if your name comes twice in the electoral roll or your name comes in two different constituencies electoral rolls, you can only vote once. If you vote twice, then both your votes are not counted. There is nothing you have to do after all this is over. Once you exit the polling station, you have completed the voting process.