Your Vote.
Your Democracy.
भारत में चुनाव — लोकतंत्र की नींव
India is the world's largest democracy. 96 crore voters, 10 lakh polling stations, one independent Election Commission. Understand how your vote shapes the nation.
Registered Voters (2024)
Polling Stations
Election Officials Deployed
Lok Sabha Constituencies
Article 324
Election Commission of India
भारत निर्वाचन आयोग
Est. 25 January 1950
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body that superintends, directs and controls the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, the office of the President and Vice-President of India. It is completely independent of the government.
CEC को केवल महाभियोग से हटाया जा सकता है — सुप्रीम कोर्ट के जज जैसी ही प्रक्रिया। यह सरकार से पूरी स्वतंत्रता सुनिश्चित करता है।
Key Powers of ECI
Composition
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
मुख्य निर्वाचन आयुक्त
Appointed by
President of India
Removal
Like a Supreme Court judge — requires impeachment by Parliament
Election Commissioners (2)
निर्वाचन आयुक्त (2)
Appointed by
President on PM's advice
Removal
On recommendation of CEC
Why ECI is Independent
The CEC can only be removed by impeachment — same process as a Supreme Court judge. This ensures complete independence from the government.
Useful Links
Democratic Structure
Types of Elections in India
भारत में चुनावों के प्रकार
Lok Sabha Election
लोकसभा चुनाव
Election for the House of the People. Directly elects 543 Members of Parliament (MPs). The majority party/coalition forms the government and its leader becomes Prime Minister.
State Assembly Election
विधानसभा चुनाव
Election for State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha). Elects MLAs. The majority party forms state government and its leader becomes Chief Minister.
Rajya Sabha Election
राज्यसभा चुनाव
Indirect election by elected MLAs of State Assemblies. Rajya Sabha is a permanent body — it is never dissolved. Each member serves a 6-year term.
Presidential Election
राष्ट्रपति चुनाव
Indirect election by an Electoral College of elected MPs (both houses) and elected MLAs of all states. Votes are weighted by population. Conducted by the Election Commission.
Local Body Elections
स्थानीय निकाय चुनाव
Elections for Gram Panchayats, Municipalities, Municipal Corporations, and other local bodies. Conducted by State Election Commissions (not ECI). 30 lakh+ elected representatives.
Step by Step
How an Election Works
चुनाव की पूरी प्रक्रिया — कदम दर कदम
Election Schedule Announcement
चुनाव कार्यक्रम की घोषणा
The Election Commission announces the election schedule — including dates for filing nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal, polling and counting. Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately.
चुनाव आयोग चुनाव कार्यक्रम घोषित करता है — नामांकन दाखिल करने, जांच, वापसी, मतदान और मतगणना की तारीखें। आदर्श आचार संहिता तुरंत लागू होती है।
Voter List Revision
मतदाता सूची का संशोधन
The electoral rolls are updated. New voters can enroll. Deaths, transfers and duplicates are removed. Every citizen 18+ can check and get their name enrolled at their local BLO (Booth Level Officer).
मतदाता सूची अपडेट होती है। नए मतदाता नामांकन करा सकते हैं। 18+ हर नागरिक अपने BLO (बूथ स्तर अधिकारी) के पास नाम दर्ज करा सकते हैं।
Nomination Filing
नामांकन दाखिल करना
Any eligible citizen can file nomination to contest the election. Candidates must submit Form 2A, pay security deposit (₹25,000 for Lok Sabha, ₹10,000 for State), and file affidavit disclosing criminal cases, assets, and educational qualifications.
कोई भी पात्र नागरिक चुनाव लड़ने के लिए नामांकन दाखिल कर सकता है। उम्मीदवार को जमानत राशि जमा करनी होती है और शपथपत्र दाखिल करना होता है।
Scrutiny & Withdrawal
जांच और वापसी
Nomination papers are examined by the Returning Officer. Candidates can withdraw within 2 days after scrutiny. Final candidate list is published.
नामांकन पत्रों की जांच रिटर्निंग ऑफिसर द्वारा की जाती है। उम्मीदवार जांच के 2 दिन बाद वापस ले सकते हैं।
Election Campaign
चुनाव प्रचार
Candidates and parties campaign — rallies, door-to-door canvassing, advertisements. Campaign spending limits apply (₹95 lakh per Lok Sabha candidate, varies by state). Campaign must stop 48 hours before polling (Silence Period).
उम्मीदवार और दल प्रचार करते हैं — रैलियां, घर-घर जाना, विज्ञापन। चुनाव खर्च सीमा लागू होती है। मतदान से 48 घंटे पहले प्रचार बंद होना जरूरी।
Polling Day
मतदान दिवस
Voters go to their designated polling booth, show EPIC/approved ID, get their left index finger inked, and cast vote on the EVM. A VVPAT slip shows their vote for 7 seconds. Booths open from 7 AM to 6 PM.
मतदाता अपने निर्धारित मतदान बूथ पर जाते हैं, EPIC/अनुमोदित ID दिखाते हैं, बाईं तर्जनी पर स्याही लगाई जाती है, EVM पर वोट डालते हैं। VVPAT पर्ची 7 सेकंड के लिए दिखती है।
Counting & Results
मतगणना और परिणाम
Votes are counted at a designated Counting Centre, usually a few days after polling. EVMs are transported under security. Counting is done round by round for each candidate. The candidate with the highest votes (First Past the Post) wins.
वोटों की गिनती नामित मतगणना केंद्र पर होती है। EVM सुरक्षा के साथ लाई जाती है। प्रत्येक उम्मीदवार के लिए चक्र दर चक्र गिनती होती है।
Declaration & Government Formation
घोषणा और सरकार गठन
Results declared. Winning candidate receives election certificate. Party/coalition with majority forms government. PM is sworn in by the President; CMs by the Governor.
परिणाम घोषित होते हैं। विजयी उम्मीदवार को चुनाव प्रमाण पत्र मिलता है। बहुमत वाला दल/गठबंधन सरकार बनाता है।
Technology & Transparency
EVM & VVPAT Explained
इलेक्ट्रॉनिक वोटिंग मशीन और VVPAT
EVM
Electronic Voting Machine
इलेक्ट्रॉनिक वोटिंग मशीन
India introduced EVMs in 1982 (Parur, Kerala) and switched completely in 2004. An EVM has two units: the Ballot Unit (voter presses button) and the Control Unit (Presiding Officer's side). They communicate via a 5-metre cable.
Runs on 6V alkaline battery — no power line needed
Can record up to 3,840 votes per session
Made only by BEL (Bengaluru) and ECIL (Hyderabad)
No memory chip — program is burnt into a one-time write ROM
Locks after each vote — can't vote twice in a row
VVPAT
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail
मतदाता सत्यापन योग्य पेपर ऑडिट ट्रेल
VVPAT is a printer attached to the EVM. When you press a button, it prints a slip showing the candidate's name, party, and symbol and displays it through a transparent window for 7 seconds. Then the slip automatically falls into a sealed VVPAT box.
How to verify your vote:
- 1 Press your chosen button on the EVM Ballot Unit
- 2 Look at the small transparent window on the VVPAT machine next to the EVM
- 3 A paper slip will appear showing the party symbol and candidate name
- 4 The slip is visible for exactly 7 seconds, then drops into the sealed box
- 5 Your vote is confirmed — the slip becomes part of the audit trail
Introduced in 2013 (Nagaland by-election). Mandatory across India from 2019 general elections onwards. VVPAT slips from 5 randomly selected EVMs per constituency are manually counted to cross-verify electronic results.
Myths vs Facts about EVMs
EVM के बारे में भ्रांतियां और तथ्य
EVMs can be hacked remotely
EVMs are standalone machines — no WiFi, no Bluetooth, no internet connection. They cannot be remotely accessed.
One button press counts multiple votes
Each EVM records exactly one vote per voter. The machine locks itself after each vote until the Presiding Officer allows the next voter.
Results can be changed after polling
Once polling ends, the EVM is sealed. Any tampering of the seal is a criminal offence. Candidates' agents are present throughout.
VVPAT cannot verify individual votes
The VVPAT produces a paper slip showing the party symbol and candidate name. Voters can visually confirm their vote for 7 seconds before it drops into the VVPAT box.
NOTA — None of the Above
उपरोक्त में से कोई नहीं
What is NOTA?
NOTA (None of the Above) is the last button on every EVM. Introduced after a 2013 Supreme Court order in People's Union for Civil Liberties vs Union of India. It allows voters to reject all candidates without abstaining.
NOTA (उपरोक्त में से कोई नहीं) EVM पर अंतिम बटन है। यह मतदाताओं को सभी उम्मीदवारों को अस्वीकार करने का अधिकार देता है।
⚠️ Important to Know
NOTA votes are counted separately but do not go to any candidate. Even if NOTA gets the most votes, the candidate with the next highest votes wins. NOTA does not trigger re-election under current law.
✅ Purpose of NOTA
NOTA sends a powerful democratic message. If enough voters choose NOTA, political parties take note and may field better candidates in future. It also ensures voters are not forced to choose between unsatisfactory candidates.
How to use NOTA
Press the last button on the EVM (below the last candidate's button). It has a ballot-box icon with an X. The VVPAT will show your NOTA selection.
Empowerment
Your Rights as a Voter
मतदाता के रूप में आपके अधिकार
Right to vote without intimidation
बिना धमकी के मतदान का अधिकार
No one can intimidate you at or near the polling booth. Report to the Presiding Officer immediately.
Right to secret ballot
गोपनीय मतदान का अधिकार
Your vote is completely secret. No one — not your employer, landlord, or anyone — has any legal right to know how you voted.
Right to paid holiday on polling day
मतदान दिवस पर सवैतनिक अवकाश का अधिकार
Under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, employees are entitled to a paid holiday to vote.
Right to challenge impersonation
प्रतिरूपण को चुनौती देने का अधिकार
If someone has already voted using your name (personation), you can still cast a "tendered vote" which is kept separately for investigation.
Right to vote with physical disability
दिव्यांगता के साथ मतदान का अधिकार
Persons with disabilities have the right to assistance in the polling booth. ECI provides accessible booths, ramps, wheelchairs, and Braille EVMs at some locations.
Right to use NOTA
NOTA का उपयोग करने का अधिकार
"None of the Above" — if you are not satisfied with any candidate, you can press the NOTA button. Your vote is counted but doesn't go to any candidate.
Electoral Integrity
Model Code of Conduct
आदर्श आचार संहिता
When it Activates
From the date of election schedule announcement
When it Ends
Until election results are declared
Applies to
All political parties, candidates, and the government in power
📞 Complaint Helpline
MCC violations can be reported to the ECI at 1950 or on the cVIGIL app. Citizens can upload photos/videos of violations.
What is cVIGIL?
ECI's mobile app for citizens to report election violations in real-time. Complaints are geo-tagged and dispatched to the nearest flying squad within 100 minutes.
Key Rules of the Model Code
What is prohibited from Election Announcement to Result
No new government schemes or policies can be announced
कोई नई सरकारी योजना या नीति घोषित नहीं की जा सकती
Government machinery cannot be used for campaign purposes
सरकारी तंत्र का उपयोग प्रचार के लिए नहीं किया जा सकता
No appointments/transfers in government without ECI approval
ECI की मंजूरी के बिना सरकारी नियुक्ति/स्थानांतरण नहीं
No appeal to religion, caste, or communal sentiments in campaigning
प्रचार में धर्म, जाति या सांप्रदायिक भावनाओं की अपील नहीं
No bribery — no distribution of cash, goods, or gifts to voters
रिश्वत नहीं — मतदाताओं को नकद, सामान या उपहार वितरण नहीं
Candidates must declare criminal records in nomination affidavit
उम्मीदवारों को नामांकन शपथपत्र में आपराधिक रिकॉर्ड घोषित करना होगा
Polling booths cannot be occupied by any party
किसी भी पार्टी द्वारा मतदान बूथ पर कब्जा नहीं किया जा सकता
Campaign must stop 48 hours before polling (Silence Period)
मतदान से 48 घंटे पहले प्रचार बंद — मौन काल
Registration
Voter ID & Registration
मतदाता पहचान पत्र और पंजीकरण
Check if you're registered
जांचें कि आप पंजीकृत हैं
- 1 Go to voters.eci.gov.in
- 2 Click "Search in Electoral Roll"
- 3 Enter your name or EPIC number
- 4 Find your polling booth details
Register as a new voter
नए मतदाता के रूप में पंजीकरण
- 1 Age 18+ as of Jan 1 of election year
- 2 Fill Form 6 online or at BLO
- 3 Attach: Aadhaar / birth proof + address proof
- 4 BLO verifies and adds your name
Update / Correct your details
विवरण अपडेट / सही करें
- 1 Name error: Form 8
- 2 Address change (same constituency): Form 8A
- 3 Move to new constituency: Delete (Form 7) + Add (Form 6) in new area
- 4 Or update on voters.eci.gov.in
EPIC — Your Voter ID Card
EPIC — इलेक्टर्स फोटो आइडेंटिटी कार्ड
EPIC (Elector's Photo Identity Card) is your official Voter ID. It is issued by the Election Commission and serves as both proof of registration and valid photo ID across India.
Valid ID for voting
Your primary document at the polling booth
Accepted as proof of identity
For bank accounts, passports, and many government services
Can vote without EPIC too
If your name is in the electoral roll, 12 alternative IDs accepted (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN, Driving License, etc.)
Download e-EPIC
Download a PDF copy from voters.eci.gov.in for free
Election Commission of India
Elector's Photo Identity Card
EPIC No.
ABC1234567
Name
Ravi Kumar
Father's Name
Suresh Kumar
DOB
01/01/1990
Sex
Male
Constituency: 42 — New Delhi · Part No. 007
Registered Voters (2024)
पंजीकृत मतदाता (2024)
Polling Stations
मतदान केंद्र
Election Officials Deployed
तैनात चुनाव अधिकारी
Lok Sabha Constituencies
लोकसभा निर्वाचन क्षेत्र
State Assembly Seats
राज्य विधानसभा सीटें
Voter Helpline Number
मतदाता हेल्पलाइन नंबर
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
लोकतंत्र एक दर्शक खेल नहीं है।
Register to vote. Know your rights. Hold your representatives accountable. That is the Constitution's promise — and your power.