Key Takeaways
India has been unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA)
The new members in the Executive Board now include Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan and Philippines.
About Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA)
- The Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) was conceived to promote and institutionalise the following matters
- open and transparent elections
- independent and impartial election authorities
- professionalisation of Asian election authorities
- citizen participation in the electoral and civic process
- information sharing
- the development of resources for election-related information and research.
- These objectives can be achieved through an exchange of experiences and information relating to election law and procedure, technology, administrative practice, and voter/civic education programs among Asian election administrators and civic leaders.
- Members
About Election Commission of India
- The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional Body responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India
- The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
- The Election Commission was established on 25th January 1950
- Constitution Provisions
- Part XV: deals with elections, and establishes a commission for these matters.
- Article 324 to 329: deals with powers, function, tenure, eligibility, etc of the commission and the members.
- Composition
- 3Members: Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners who are usually retired IAS officers
- Appointment
- The President appoints CEC and Election Commissioners.
- They have a fixed tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
- They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India
- Removal of Election Commissioners
- Election Commissioner can be removed same manner as Supreme Court Judge of India
- Functions:
- ECI Superintendents, direct and control the entire process of conducting elections to parliament and legislature of every state and to the offices of president and vice president of India.
- To decide the election schedules for the conduct of periodic and timely elections, whether general or bye elections.
- It prepares electoral roll, issues electronic photo identity card.
- Decides on the location of polling stations, assignment of voters to the polling stations, location of counting centres, arrangements to be made in and around polling stations and counting centres, arrangements to be made in and around polling stations and counting centres and all allied matters
- Grants recognition to political parties and allot election symbols to them along with settling disputes related to it.
- Advisory jurisdiction in the matter of post election disqualification of sitting members of Parliament and state legislatures.
- Issues model code of conduct in election for political parties and candidates
- Sets limits of campaign expenditure per candidate to all the political parties.
Pic Courtesy: PIB
Content Source: PIB