Powers and Functions of Election Commission

7/7/2019

The powers and functions of the Election Commission with regard to elections to the Parliament, state legislatures and offices of President and Vice-President can be classified into three categories, viz,

Administrative
Advisory
Quasi-Judicial

In detail, these powers and functions are:

To determine the territorial areas of the electoral constituencies throughout the country on the basis of the Delimitation Commission Act of Parliament.
To prepare and periodically revise electoral rolls and to register all eligible voters.
To notify the dates and schedules of elections and to scrutinise nomination papers.
To grant recognition to political parties and allot election symbols to them.
To act as a court for settling disputes related to granting of recognition to political parties and allotment of election symbols to them.
To appoint officers for inquiring intodisputes relating to electoral arrangements.
To determine the code of conduct to be observed by the parties and the candidates at the time of elections.
To prepare a roster for publicity of the policies of the political parties on radio and TV in times of elections.
To advise the president on matters relating to the disqualifications of the members of Parliament.
To advise the governor on matters relating to the disqualifications of the members of state legislature.
To cancel polls in the event of rigging, booth capturing, violence and other irregularities.
To request the president or the governor for requisitioning the staff necessary for conducting elections.
To supervise the machinery of elections throughout the country to ensure free and fair elections.
To advise the president whether elections can be held in a state under president’s rule in order to extend the period of emergency after one year.
To register political parties for the purpose of elections and grant them the status of national or state parties on the basis of their poll performance. The Election Commission is assisted by deputy election commissioners.

They are drawn from the civil service and appointed by the commission with tenure system. They are assisted, in turn, by the secretaries, joint secretaries, deputy secretaries and under secretaries posted in the secretariat of the commission.

At the state level, the Election Commission is assisted by the chief electoral officer who is appointed by the chief election commissioner in consultation with the state government. Below this, at the district level, the collector acts as the district returning officer. He appoints a returning officer for every constituency in the district and presiding officer for every polling booth in the constituency.

Vision, Mission and Principles
Vision The Election Commission of India strives to be an Institution of Excellence by enhancing active engagement, participation; and deepening and strengthening electoral democracy in India and globally.

Mission The Election Commission of India maintains independence, integrity and autonomy; ensures accessibility, inclusiveness, and ethical participation of stakeholders; and, adopts highest standards of professionalism for delivering free, fair, and transparent elections to strengthen the trust in electoral democracy and governance.

Guiding Principles The Commission has laid down for itself guiding principles of good governance:

To uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution viz, equality, equity, impartiality, independence; and rule of law in superintendence, direction and control over the electoral governance;
To conduct elections with highest standard of credibility, freeness, fairness, transparency, integrity, accountability, autonomy and professionalism;
To ensure participation of all eligible citizens in the electoral process in an inclusive voter centric and voter-friendly environment;
To engage with political parties and all stakeholders in the interest of electoral process;
To promote awareness about the electoral process and electoral governance amongst stakeholders namely, voters, political parties, election functionaries, candidates and people at large; and to enhance and strengthen confidence and trust in the electoral system of this country;
To develop the human resource for effective and professional delivery of electoral services;
To build quality infrastructure for smooth conduct of electoral process;
To adopt technology for improvement in all areas of electoral process;
To strive for adoption of innovative practices for achieving excellence and overall realization of the vision and mission;
To contribute towards the reinforcement of democratic values by maintaining and reinforcing confidence and trust of the people in the electoral system of the country.