The process of Parliamentary General Election is conducted by the election commission of India. Its description is being presented with the help of the following points:
(i) Time of Election : Time duration of Lok Sabha is 5 years. In case, the government loses its majority in Lok Sabha and there is no alternative of government formation, then the President can disolve the Lok Sabha even before the completion of its full term.
(ii) Election schedule or program : After the issuance of ordinance of election, a candidate submits his nomination from the respective elected constituency of Election, After last date of nomination is over, the concerned Election officer undertakes the work of scrutiny of the nomination papers and then issue the list of eligible condidates besides printing of ballot. On ballot, the names of condidates and party symbols are printed. The candidates of the registered parties are alloted their respective party symbol. The candidates fighting elections are given two-week time for election compaigning before the conduct of election. The election campaign has to be stopped 48 hrs before the commencement of voting process. Voting is conducted in many phases. In the event of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) are used for voting purpose, one presiding officer and three additional voting (polling) officers are put on duty.
Duties of polling officers at polling centres and Voting Process :
Process : In order to ensur the hassle-free and smooth voting process at the polling centres, the District Election Officer appoints one presiding officer and other polling officers. First polling officer is the incharge of the marked copy of electorate list and also responsible for identification of the electorate (voters). Second polling officer is the in-charge of indelible ink. He receives signature of voters in the voters’ register or gets thumb impression; and then issues voter slip and puts a mark of indelible ink on the nail or tip of left hand forefinger. The third polling officer is the in-charge of EVM control unit. He allows a voter in accordance with the voter slips issued by the second polling officer to cast their franchise in polling enclosure. A voter either presses a button of EVM machine or puts the stamp on ballot in support of his choiced candidate. In case, the voting is being conducted through ballot, then the unmarked ballob is folded and then dropped to the ballot box. In this way the voting process for parliamentary General Election stands complete.
