The given headlines with reference to the powers and functions of the Election commission are discussed below:
(a) Preparation of the Electoral Roll:
The Constitution lays down that there shall be one ‘General Electoral Roll’ for every territorial constituency. The Lok Sabha or any of the Assemblies may be dissolved before its terms of five years has expired. Therefore, the electoral rolls will have to be kept up-to-date all the time so that the new election may take place without any difficulty.
(b) Recognition of Political Parties:
The Election Commission grants recognition to the political parties for Election Commission grants recognition to the political parties for Election purposes. These national parties are Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC) (Cong. I), the CPI (M), the Communist Party of India (CPI), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
(c) Allotment of Symbols:
The National and State level parties can have a reserved symbol for all the candidates nominated by them. The independent candidates can select any symbol out of a list of ‘Free Symbols’.The purpose behind allowing symbols is that illiterate masses cannot read the names of the candidates of their parties. It is easy for them to identify the symbols for electing candidates of their choice. Secondly ‘reserved symbols’ become so popular that the parties do not have to do canvassing for their candidates.
