Election Commission of India – Constitutional Body

Election Commission

1. Article 324 deals with the Election Commission.
2. It provides that the power of superintendence, direction, and control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of president of India, and the office of vice-president of India shall be vested in the election commission.
3. It is a permanent and independent body.
4. It is common to both the Central government and the state governments.
5. It consists of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners, as the president
   may decide from time to time.
6. President appoints both the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.
7. The conditions of service and tenure of office of the election commissioners and the regional
   commissioners shall be determined by the president.
8. The chief election commissioner and the two other election commissioners have equal powers and receive equal salary, allowances, and other perquisites, which are similar to those of a judge of the Supreme Court.
9. They hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is
   earlier.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

1. It determines the territorial areas of the electoral constituencies throughout the country on the
   basis of the Delimitation Commission Act of Parliament.
2. It prepares the electoral roll and registers all eligible voters.
3. It grants recognition to the political parties and hence provides them with election symbols.
4. It advises both the president and governor on matters relating to the disqualifications of the
   members of Parliament and members of state legislature respectively.
5. It supervises the machinery of elections throughout the country to ensure free and fair elections.