1. Electoral Structure: India follows a federal parliamentary democratic system. The country is divided into 28 states and 8 Union territories, and elections are held at the national level to elect representatives to the Parliament of India.
2. Parliament of India: The Parliament of India consists of two houses – the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The Lok Sabha is the lower house and represents the people, while the Rajya Sabha is the upper house and represents the states and union territories.
3. Lok Sabha: The Lok Sabha has a total of 545 members, known as Members of Parliament (MPs). Of these, 543 members are directly elected from single-member constituencies, and two members are nominated by the President to represent the Anglo-Indian community. The number of seats allocated to each state is determined by its population size.
4. Rajya Sabha: The Rajya Sabha has a total of 245 members. Members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the members of the State Legislative Assemblies using proportional representation. The allocation of seats to each state is based on factors like population, representation, and other considerations.
5. Voting System: India uses a first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting system for the Lok Sabha elections. Under this system, voters in each constituency cast their votes for a candidate, and the candidate with the highest number of votes is declared the winner. The party or coalition that secures a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha forms the government.
6. Election Commission of India (ECI): The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional authority responsible for the conduct of elections in the country. It manages various aspects of the electoral process, including voter registration, candidate nominations, polling, and result declaration.
7. Election Timing: The President of India, upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister, has the authority to dissolve the Lok Sabha and call for new elections. The normal term for the Lok Sabha is five years, but elections can be called earlier if the government loses a vote of confidence or if the President decides to dissolve the Lok Sabha.
8. Voter Eligibility: To be eligible to vote in national elections in India, a person must be a citizen of India and at least 18 years old on the qualifying date. Voters must be registered on the electoral roll, which is maintained by the Election Commission.
