Chief Electoral Officer (India)

Last updated

Chief Electoral Officer is a statutory authority created for representing Election Commission of India for conducting elections in states and union territories of India. Constitution of India with introduction of Article 324 made the powers of Chief Electoral Officer(India) independent. Their duties and powers are bound under Section 13 A of Representation of the People Act, 1950 read with Section 20 of Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Contents

History and administration

The role of Chief Electoral Officer(India) is highlighted under Section 13 A of Representation of the People Act, 1950 read with Section 20 of Representation of the People Act, 1951 for performing the functions under the supervision and direction of Election Commission of India. [1] Chief Electoral Officer is deputed by Election Commission of India in all states of India. [2] [3] [4]

Roles and responsibilities

Chief Electoral Officer (India) roles and responsibilities are categorised under following heads: [2] [1] [5]

Pre-election

Law and order maintenance

  • Reviewing law and order situation is proper.
  • Ensuring timely measures are taken through detailed assessment.
  • One of the most important areas of his role is maintaining inter-state coordination and closing of state borders when needed.
  • Critical polling stations identification as per the guidelines of the Election Commission.
  • Making vulnerability mapping of election areas prior to the elections after consulting local police officials and field officers.
  • Assessing the availability and additional need of state police personnel and forces for security and sending the requirement, if any to the Election Commission.
  • Ensuring plan for security deployment is as per Election Commission's directives.
  • Check functioning of Helpline and other Complaint Cell are operational at different levels in the state.

During election

Post-election

Constitutional requirements

Chief Electoral Officer (India) are deputed in States and Union Territories of India by Election Commission of India under Section 13 A of Representation of the People Act, 1950 read with Section 20 of Representation of the People Act, 1951 to act on their behalf during the elections.

Eligibility

Following are the Eligibility for becoming Chief Electoral Officer: [2]

Chief electoral officers by state

The following is the list of chief electoral officers for states of India. [6]

RankStateElectoral officersElection commission
1 Andhra Pradesh Shri Mukesh Kumar Meena Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission
2 Arunachal Pradesh Smt. Juhi Mukherjee Arunachal Pradesh State Election Commission
3 Assam Sh. Mukesh C. Sahu Assam State Election Commission
4 Bihar Sh. H.R. Shrinivas Bihar State Election Commission
5 Chhattisgarh Smt. Reena Baba Saheb Kangale Chhattisgarh State Election Commission
6 Goa Smt. Sh. Kunal Goa State Election Commission
7 Gujarat Mr. Anupam Anand Gujarat State Election Commission
8 Haryana Mr. Sh. Anurag Agarwal Haryana State Election Commission
9 Himachal Pradesh Mr. Sh. Devesh Kumar Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission
10 Jharkhand Mr. Sh. Vinay Kr. Choubey Jharkhand State Election Commission
11 Karnataka Mr. Sh. Sanjiv Kumar Karnataka State Election Commission
12 Kerala Mr. Sanjay Kaul Kerala State Election Commision
13 Madhya Pradesh Mr. V.L. Kantha Rao Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission
14 Maharashtra Mr. Baldev Singh Maharashtra State Election Commission
15 Manipur Mr. Prashant Kumar Singh Manipur State Election Commission
16 Meghalaya Mr.Sh. F.R. Kharkongor Meghalaya State Election Commission
17 Mizoram Mr Ashish Kundra Mizoram State Election Commission
18 Nagaland Mr Abhijit Sinha Nagaland State Election Commission
19 Odisha Mr Sushil Kumar Lohani Odisha State Election Commission
20 Punjab Mr S. Karuna Raju Punjab State Election Commission
21 Rajasthan Mr Praveen Gupta Rajasthan State Election Commission
22 Sikkim Mr Ravindra Telang Sikkim State Election Commission
23 Tamil Nadu Mr Satyabrat Sahoo Tamil Nadu State Election Commission
24 Telangana Mr Vikas Raj Telangana State Election Commission
25 Tripura Mr Sriram Taranikanti Tripura State Election Commission
26 Uttar Pradesh Mr Ajay Kumar Shukla [7] Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission
27 Uttarakhand Ms. Sowjanya Uttarakhand State Election Commission
28 West Bengal Mr. Aariz Aftab West Bengal State Election Commission
29 Andaman and Nicobar Islands Mr. K. R. Meena Andaman and Nicobar Election Commission
30 Chandigarh Mr. Sh. Ajoy Kr. Sinha Chandigarh Election Commission
31 Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Ms. Pooja Jain Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Election Commission
32 Delhi Dr. Ranveer Singh Delhi State Election Commission
33 Jammu and Kashmir Mr. Sh. Shailendra Kumar Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission
34 Ladakh Ladakh Election Commission
35 Lakshadweep Sh. Vijendra Singh Rawat Lakshadweep Election Commission
36 Pondicherry Sh. Shurbir Singh Puducherry State Election Commission

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in New Zealand</span>

New Zealand is a representative democracy in which members of the unicameral New Zealand Parliament gain their seats through elections. General elections are usually held every three years; they may be held at an earlier date at the discretion of the prime minister, but that usually only happens in the event of a vote of no confidence or other exceptional circumstances. A by-election is held to fill an electorate vacancy arising during a parliamentary term. Election day is always a Saturday, but advance voting is allowed in the lead-up to it. The most recent general election took place on 14 October 2023.

The Canadian electoral system is based on a parliamentary system of government modelled on that of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Barbados</span>

Elections in Barbados are held to choose members to fill elective offices in the House of Assembly. Elections are held on Election Day. These general elections do not have fixed dates, but must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election. A former minister of the DLP, Warwick Franklin summed up the general elections process in Barbados as saying it is really just, "30 by-elections on the same day."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Bhutan</span>

Elections in Bhutan are conducted at national (Parliamentary) and local levels. Suffrage is universal for citizens 18 and over, and under applicable election laws. In national elections, also known as the general elections, political party participation is mainly restricted to the lower house of Parliament, and by extension, to the executive nominated by its majority

India has a parliamentary system as defined by its constitution, with power distributed between the union government and the states. India's democracy is the largest democracy in the world.

An electoral roll is a compilation that lists persons who are entitled to vote for particular elections in a particular jurisdiction. The list is usually broken down by electoral districts, and is primarily prepared to assist election officials at polling places. Most jurisdictions maintain permanent electoral rolls, which are updated continuously or periodically, while some jurisdictions compile new electoral rolls before each election. Electoral rolls are the result of a process of voter registration. In most jurisdictions, voter registration is a prerequisite for voting at an election. Some jurisdictions do not require voter registration, and do not use electoral rolls, such as the state of North Dakota in the United States. In those jurisdictions a voter must provide identification and proof of entitlement to vote before being permitted to vote.

The Electoral Commission is an independent Crown entity set up by the New Zealand Parliament. It is responsible for the administration of parliamentary elections and referendums, promoting compliance with electoral laws, servicing the work of the Representation Commission, and the provision of advice, reports and public education on electoral matters. The commission also assists electoral agencies of other countries on a reciprocal basis with their electoral events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Returning officer</span> Type of election officer

In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.

Rule 49-O was a rule in The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 of India, which governs elections in the country. It described the procedure to be followed when a valid voter decides not to cast his vote, and decides to record this fact. The rule was declared by the Supreme Court in September 2013 to be incompatible with the constitution and the Election Commission of India announced that the option under this rule would not be available any more. The apparent purpose of this section was to maintain a proper record in order to prevent the election fraud or the misuse of votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Election Commission of Pakistan</span> Constitutional body in Pakistan

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is an independent, autonomous, permanent and constitutionally established federal body responsible for organizing and conducting elections to the national parliament, provincial legislatures, local governments, and the office of president of Pakistan, as well as the delimitation of constituencies and preparation of electoral rolls. As per the principles outlined in the Constitution of Pakistan, the Commission makes such arrangements as needed to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and guard against corrupt practices. The Election Commission was formed on 23 March 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh Election Commission</span> Independent constitutional body

The Bangladesh Election Commission, abbreviated and publicly referred to as EC, is an government controlled constitutional body that operates the legal functions of election laws in Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in the United Kingdom</span>

There are five types of elections in the United Kingdom: elections to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elections to devolved parliaments and assemblies, local elections, mayoral elections, and police and crime commissioner elections. Within each of those categories, there may also be by-elections. Elections are held on Election Day, which is conventionally a Thursday, and under the provisions of the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 the timing of general elections can be held at the discretion of the prime minister during any five-year period. All other types of elections are held after fixed periods, though early elections to the devolved assemblies and parliaments can occur in certain situations. The five electoral systems used are: the single member plurality system (first-past-the-post), the multi-member plurality, the single transferable vote, the additional member system, and the supplementary vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Jammu and Kashmir</span> Overview of elections in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir

Elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of India to elect the representatives of various bodies at national, state and district levels including the 114 seat unicameral Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and the Parliament of India. The first elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir took place between 28 November and 19 December 2020 in the form of by-elections to District Development Councils and municipal and panchayat level bodies. A fresh delimitation process for assembly constituencies began in February–March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly election</span> Legislative assembly election in Haryana, India

A general election was held on 15 October 2014 to elect 90 members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. The term of previous assembly elected in 2009 was to expire on 27 October 2014. The results were announced on 19 October. The BJP won the majority in the Assembly. Manohar Lal Khattar was chosen to head the new government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Election Commission of India</span> Election regulatory body of India

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body established by the Constitution of India empowered to conduct free and fair elections in India. The Election commission is headed by a Chief Election Commissioner and consists of two other Election Commissioners.

Absentee voting in the United Kingdom is allowed by proxy or post for any elector.

Gujarat State Election Commission is an autonomous and statutory body constituted in the Indian state of Gujarat for ensuring that elections in Gujarat are conducted in a free, fair and unbiased way. The Constitution of India with provisions as per Article 243K and 243 ZA and Article 324 ensures the creation and safeguarding of the powers of State Election Commissions. Gujarat State Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections for Urban Local Bodies like Municipalities, Municipal Corporations, Panchayats and any other specified by Election Commission of India. Gujarat State Election Commissioner is appointed by Governor.

Rajasthan State Election Commission is an autonomous and statutory body constituted in Indian state of Rajasthan for ensuring that elections in are conducted in free, fair and unbiased way. Constitution of India with provisions as per Article 243K and 243 ZA and Article 324 ensures creation and safeguarding of the powers of State Election Commissions. Rajasthan State Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections for Urban Local Bodies like Municipalities, Municipal Corporations, Panchayats and any other specified by Election Commission of India. Rajasthan State Election Commissioner is appointed by Governor of Rajasthan.

Nagaland State Election Commission is an autonomous and statutory body constituted in Indian state of Nagaland for ensuring that elections in are conducted in free, fair and unbiased way. Constitution of India with provisions as per Article 243K and 243 ZA and Article 324 ensures creation and safeguarding of the powers of State Election Commissions. Nagaland State Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections for Urban Local Bodies like Municipalities, Municipal Corporations, Panchayats and any other specified by Election Commission of India. Nagaland State Election Commissioner is appointed by Governor of Nagaland.

Jammu & Kashmir State Election Commission is an autonomous and statutory body constituted in Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for ensuring that elections are conducted in free, fair and unbiased way. Constitution of India with provisions as per Article 243K and 243 ZA and Article 324 ensures creation and safeguarding of the powers of State Election Commissions. Jammu & Kashmir State Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections for Urban Local Bodies like Municipalities, Municipal Corporations, Panchayats and any other specified by Election Commission of India. Jammu & Kashmir State Election Commissioner is appointed by Governor of Jammu & Kashmir.

References

  1. 1 2 "Role and Functions of Chief Electoral Officer". Political Corner. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Chief Electoral Officer of India". www.elections.in. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  3. "ECI holds conference with chief election officers; review meeting on poll-bound states on Tuesday". Hindustan Times. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  4. "Responsibilities and functions". Official website. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  5. "EC organises conference of Chief Electoral Officers". manoramayearbook.in. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  6. "Contact List of All Chief Electoral Officers". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. "CEO Desk". Official website. Retrieved 20 September 2018.