By:- B.T Team
Image Credit:- Google
The Election Commission of India (ECI) was established on January 25, 1950, and it remains one of the most robust election bodies globally.
Oldest Election Authority in the World:
The indelible ink used in Indian elections to mark voters' fingers was invented by a Bangalore-based company, Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited.
Use of Ink for Voting:
Single-Member Commission Initially:
Until 1989, the ECI was a single-member commission. It became a multi-member commission during the 1989 general elections to better handle the workload.
The Largest Election Management Body:
India’s Election Commission oversees elections for over 900 million eligible voters, making it the largest election body in the world.
The 2019 general elections were the largest democratic exercise in history, with over 600 million votes cast.
World’s Largest Democracy:
Symbol Allocation:
The ECI is responsible for allocating symbols to political parties. It also manages disputes over party symbols, a crucial aspect of Indian elections.
Election Observers:
The ECI deploys observers to monitor elections, ensuring free and fair voting. These observers have wide-ranging powers to annul results if malpractice is detected.
No Vote of Disqualification for Criminal Offenses:
The ECI allows convicted candidates to run for elections unless they are convicted of an offense carrying over two years of imprisonment.
The ECI handles data for more than 1 million polling stations and manages over 4,000 distinct political parties during general elections.
VVPAT for Transparency:
The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system was introduced to ensure transparency, allowing voters to verify their vote was recorded correctly.