Electoral Process followed during Lok Sabha or Assembly Election Election in India are conducted according to the procedure laid down by law. The following process is observed:
1. Notification for Election:
(a) The process of election notification officially starts when on the recommendation of Election Commission, the President in case of Lok Sabha and the Governor in case of State Assembly issue a notification for the election.
(b) Seven days are given to candidates to file nominations.
(c) The seventh day is the last date after issue of notification excluding Sunday.
(d) Scrutiny of nomination papers is done on the day normally after the last date of filing nomination.
(e) The candidate can withdraw his/her nomination on the second day after the scrutiny of papers.
(f) Election is held not earlier than twentieth day after the withdrawal.
2. Filing of nomination:
(a) A person who intends to contest an election is required to file the nomination paper in a prescribed form indicating his/her name, age, postal address and serial number in the electoral rolls.
(b) The candidate is required to be duly proposed and seconded by at least two voters registered in the concerned constituency.
(c) Every candidate has to take an oath or make affirmation. Their papers are then submitted to the Returning Officer designated by the Election Commission.
3. Security Deposit:
(a) Every candidate has to make a security deposit at the time of filing nomination.
(b) For Lok Sabha every candidate has to make security deposit of Rs 10,000/- and for State Assembly Rs 5,000/
(c) Candidates belong to S. C. and S.T.(categories) are required to Rs 5,000/- for if contesting the Lok Sabha elections and 2,500/for contesting Vidhan Sabha elections.
(d) The security deposit is forfeited if the candidate fails to get at least 1/6 of the total valid votes polled.
4. Scrutiny and withdrawal: All nomination papers received by the Returning Officer are scrutinised on the day fixed by the Election Commission. This is done to ensure that all papers are filled according to the procedure laid down and accompanied by required security deposit. Immediately after that the last day is fixed for the withdrawal.
5. Election Campaign: The total free time is fixed by the Election Commission which is allocated to all the political parties for the purpose of election campaign. Campaigning stops 48 hours before the day of polling.
6. Model Code of Conduct: It comes into force the moment schedule of election is announced by the Election Commission. The code of conduct is prepared by the Election Commission, with discussion and taking suggestions from other people also. It has the following points mainly:
(i) Political parties and contesting candidates should not use religious places for elections campaigns.
(ii) Such speeches should not be delivered which in a way help to create hatred among different communities belonging to different castes, languages and religions etc.
(iii) Government machinery should not be used for election work by political parties or candidates.
(iv) One cannot insure mass media for partisan coverage.
(v) No new grants can be sanctioned, no new schemes or projects can be started once the election dates are announced.
7. Scrutinies of Expenses done by candidates individually and by political parties participated in a particular election is also done by the Election Commission and Polling, counting and declaration of results and disputes related with election are also heard and done by the Election Commission.
