election commision

ELECTIONS RECENTLY IN WHICH STATES





FIRST GENERAL ELECTIONS TO THE LOK SABHA WERE HELD IN 1952



VOTER'S IDENTITY CARD IS ISSUED BY---ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA


ELECTION COMMISION---- JAN 17 2011 CELEBRATED 60 TH ANNIVERSARY


EC----AUTONOMOUS BODY, STATUTORY BODY



2010------INDIAN ELECTION COMMISION CELEBRATED DIAMOND JUBILEE

GUJARAT IS FIRST STATE TO INTRODUCE ONLINE VOTING IN PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS


Syed Nasim Ahmed Zaidi : New Election Commissioner
The President Pranab Mukherjee approved his appointment.




The Election Commission of India unveiled an initiative to
identify the missing and non-voters to encourage them for
voting. The Commission has designed a YUVA strategy
which abbreviates “Youth Unite for Voter Awareness”
(YUVA) to encourage increased participation of young
women and men in the electoral process.
The Commission is making efforts to include homeless people, nomads,
transgenders, NRIs among others in the electoral process. The body also aims to
build greater support and chorus of views in favor of participatory democracy and
promote and sustain it through election literacy and enlightened voter participation.
It was noted by the EC that nearly 281 million voters in the country did not exercise
their participated in voting during the last Lok Sabha elections in 2009.





First state in India for implementation of Poll Monitoring System: Goa
Election Commission of India decides to make use of innovative Poll Monitoring System in all the 40 assembly constituencies of Goa for the ensuing assembly polls slated on March 3. This would be the first such occasion in the electoral history of the country. Under the system, fingerprints of the voters would be recorded by finger print reading machines along with their photographs by the web cameras fitted to computers.











Person in News: V S Sampath
V S Sampath takes charge over Chief Election Commissioner
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
As per him, on his priorities are to:
 Clean electoral rolls
 Free registration for eligible persons
 Strike out ineligible persons from the voters list






Braille script on Electronic Voting Machines in Maharashtra
Maharashtra State Election Commission added the Braille script on the
EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines)
Objective: To facilitate Visually Challenged Voters in exercising their
franchise
The EVMs, installed with Braille sign to be used in all the elections in
the state from now onwards
The EVMs to also have security features
Designed by: The Electronics Corporation of India Limited






EC relaxes Model Code of Conduct ahead of June 12 by-polls
The EC (Election Commission) has settled to relax the Model Code of Conduct, on an experimental
basis, by permitting partial implementation of developmental schemes in those districts where bypolls
will be held on June 12, 2012.
Why this decision was taken by EC?
The EC order came after several states, where by-elections are being held, gave representations stating that the
enforcement of model code affects the developmental works in the entire district, while only a part of the district may
be involved in the election process.
NOT applicable to the entire districts: Thus, the EC has now decided on an experimental basis that the model code
shall now be applicable only in respect of areas falling in the Assembly constituencies / Parliamentary constituency
going for bye-election and not to the entire districts in which such constituency is situated.
Applicable to the entire districts: The EC yet, held that all other existing instructions on Model Code of Conduct on
matters like tours of ministers, vehicles, advertisements, use of government guest houses, and all persisting
Commission’s instructions including transfers of officers etc. shall persist to remain applicable to the whole districts in
which the constituency having the bye-election is located.










EC reschedules the Poll Dates in Uttar Pradesh
 Election Commission announces new poll dates after the postponement of first phase of Assembly elections in
Uttar Pradesh will be March 3.
 Earlier polling in 60 constituencies spread over 10 districts was slated on February 4, it has been rescheduled
because it coincidences with Eid-e-Milad un Nabi.
 Counting of votes will take place on March 6 instead of March 4.





EC asks Government to withhold 4.5% minorities sub quota
 The Election Commission asks the government to withhold the 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities in the five
poll bound states for now.
 The direction will remain in force till the poll process is over in these states.
 The decision to give this share to the minorities from the 27 per cent OBC quota was taken in last month.
 The opposition parties alleged that this is a violation of Model Code of Conduct.






Election Commission takes various steps for effective implementation
of Model Code of Conduct
 The Uttar Pradesh Government has been asked to transfer 259 Block Development Officers in view of their over
stay in the same districts
 Setting up communication centres at district headquarters in Uttar Pradesh.
 Lodges 43 FIRs in different cases for violation of model code of conduct.
 Seized Rs. 4 crore 50 lakhs unaccounted cash at different places in last 10 days in Uttar Pradesh.
 Ordered removal of Director General of Police in Manipur.
 Makes sure that every voter in Manipur will be photographed during voting.






Prohibition in use of animals in Election Campaigns

The Election Commission (E.C.) has directed the Political Parties and candidates
not to use birds and animals in their campaigns. The E.C. has also directed that in
case the use of animal is inescapable then the party/candidate will have to ascertain
that no harm is caused to the animal including violation of any law as well as cruelty
towards the creature. In order to rationalize its decision, the commission pointed
towards Article 51(g) of the Indian Constitution that states compassion for all living
creature as well as Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960. E.C. also indicated
towards the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 that forbids overloading and excruciating of
the animals.
Why this decision made by E.C.?
The decision was made subsequent to the representations received by the
E.C. by some organizations and individuals submitting the mercilessness that
animals tolerated during the election campaign of the political parties.













CEC pitches for Constitutional amendment for protection of ECs
 India’s Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi says that there is need for a Constitutional amendment to give protection to the Election Commissioners, so that they are not under any pressure.
 As per article 324 (2) of Constitution of India, Election commission consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time fix and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf by Parliament, be made by the President.
 There are two election commissioners in India by convention. The Constitution provides protection to the chief election commissioner by making a provision that Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court and the conditions of service of the Chief Election Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
However, there are no such protection provisions in regard with Election Commission.

 Mr. Quraishi also favours automatic elevation of the senior-most EC to the post of Chief Election Commissioner.He says that two ECs who do not enjoy Constitutional protection under the law, be given the status as they should not feel they are on probation.