Elections in India are conducted by the Election Commission of India , the authority created under the Constitution.. It is a well established convention that once the election process commences; no courts intervene until the results are declared by the election commission. During the elections, vast powers are assigned to the election commission to the extent that it can function as a civil court, if needed.
Electoral Process in India takes at least a month for state assembly elections with the duration increasing further for the General Elections. Publishing of electoral rolls is a key process that happens before the elections and is vital for the conduct of elections in India. The Indian Constitution sets the eligibility of an individual for voting. Any person who is a citizen of India and above 18 years of age is eligible to enroll as a voter in the electoral rolls. It is the responsibility of the eligible voters to enroll their names. Normally, voter registrations are allowed latest one week prior to the last date for nomination of candidates.
Before the elections, the election commission announces the dates of nomination, polling and counting. The model code of conduct comes in force from the day the dates are announced. The code of conduct specifies that the central and state governments cannot announce any major stops to the electorate to prevent any unfair swings in the voting pattern. No party is allowed to use the government resources for campaigning. The code of conduct stipulates that campaigning be stopped 48 hours prior to polling day.
Now election process is going to complete today & counting of votes will be began after few hours on May 16th, 2009.
For information please visit following websites:-
THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1950
- http://gulbarga.nic.in/karelections2008/ACTS/RPAct1950.pdf
THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
- http://www.eci.gov.in/