Election Commission of India



Founded in 1950, the Election Commission of India is a Constitutional Body. The Commission is responsible for monitoring the whole process of election in India. It has been entrusted with the task of conducting fair and free poll in Parliament as well as in State Legislature. The Commission is headed by Chief Election Commissioner and also consists of 2 Election Commissioners assisting the former.

The President of India has the power of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner as well as Election Commissioners. The Chief Commissioner can only be removed from his post if the Parliament of India charges him with any offence. They are supposed to serve the country for a time span of six years. Shri B.B Tandon is the present Chief Election Commissioner of India.

The main office of Election Commission of India is at New Delhi. The office consists of around 300 officials working under the Commission. The senior officers holding various important posts in the Commission are selected from the civil service of India. The Election Commission of India comprises several branches and divisions. The main sections of the Election Commission are Judicial, Planning, Administration, Media and Secretariat Co-ordination and Information Systems. The Commission has made separate divisions for the convenience of proper administration and distribution of work.

All the state level elections are supervised by an officer selected by the Commission. In the districts, the election is controlled by Electoral Registration Officers, Returning Officers and District Election Officers. These officers are generally helped by few personnel for successfully conducting the poll. The Election Commission - India involves a huge force for conducting the poll throughout India.

The Commission holds talks with several political parties regarding elections in India. Meetings are held to inform the leaders about the new measures taken for the forthcoming election. The Election Commission has the power of disqualifying a candidate if he fails to produce his list of election expenses in time.

It also issues authority letters to the media persons for entering polling stations. At the time of election, the Commission holds briefings for the electronic as well as print media on a regular basis. In recent years, it has taken several steps for improving the election scenario in the country. Some of these are:

  1. Simplifying the process of election
  2. Offering identity cards to the voters
  3. Strict measures are taken against any offensive activities of the political leaders
  4. Computerization of the whole procedure and others


The contact details of the Election Commission of India are as follows:

Nirvachan Sadan,
Ashoka Road,
New Delhi-110001
Tel: 011-23717391
Fax: 011-23713412



Last Updated on 28 September 2012