Polling and counting of votes
- 1. POLLING AND COUNTING OF VOTES G.Varsha
- 2. Polling Polling is normally held on a number of different days in different constituencies, to enable the security forces and those monitoring the election to keep law and order and ensure that voting during the election is fair
- 3. Voters’ list For every constituency, there is a voters list Article 326 of the Constitution, and Sec. 19 of R. P. Act, 1950 stipulate that the minimum age for registration of a voter is 18 years. Earlier, the age for registration of a voter was 21 years. Through the 61st amendment Act, 1988 of the Constitution read with Act 21 of 1989 amending the R. P. Act, 1950, the minimum age of registration of a voter has been brought down to 18 years. This has been made effective from 28th March, 1989.
- 4. A person who is not a citizen of India cannot be registered as a voter. A person cannot be enrolled as a voter in more than one place in the same constituency or in more than one constituency
- 5. Pre- elections At first before the elections the dates of nomination, polling and counting takes place. The model code of conduct comes in force from the day the dates are announced. The code of conduct stipulates that campaigning be stopped 48 hours prior to polling day.
- 6. Voting day Government schools and colleges are chosen as polling stations. The Collector of each district is in charge of polling. Government employees are employed to many of the polling stations. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being increasingly used instead of ballot boxes to prevent election fraud via booth capturing, which is heavily prevalent in certain parts of India.
- 7. An indelible ink is applied usually on the left index finger of the voter as an indicator that the voter has cast his vote.
- 8. Post elections After the election day, the EVMs are stored in a strong room under heavy security. After the different phases of the elections are complete, a day is set to count the votes. The votes are tallied typically, the verdict is known within hours. The candidate who has mustered the most votes is declared the winner of the constituency. The party or coalition that has won the most seats is invited by the President to form the new government.
- 9. Counting votes Counting of votes is the last major step towards the culmination of the election process. The importance of the process of counting of votes hardly needs to be emphasized. Under the law, counting of votes to be done by, or under the supervision and direction of the Returning Officer of the Constituency in the presence of the candidates and their agents.
- 10. As the candidate or his election agent cannot be expected to be physically present at each of such counting places and tables the law permits the candidate to appoint his counting agents who may be present at each of the said counting places and counting tables and watch his interests.