Elections in India#General Elections (Lok sabha)

{{Election results

|image=300px

|party1=Indian National Congress|votes1=47665951|seats1=364

|party2=Socialist Party (India)|Socialist Party|votes2=11216719|seats2=12

|party3=Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party|votes3=6135978|seats3=9

|party4=Communist Party of India|votes4=3487401|seats4=16

|party5=Bharatiya Jana Sangh|votes5=3246361|seats5=3

|party6=Scheduled Castes Federation|votes6=2521695|seats6=2

|party7=Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad|votes7=2091898|seats7=3

|party8=Krishikar Lok Party|votes8=1489615|seats8=1

|party9=People's Democratic Front (Hyderabad)|votes9=1367404|seats9=7

|party10=Shiromani Akali Dal|votes10=1047611|seats10=4

|party11=Hindu Mahasabha|votes11=1003034|seats11=4

|party12=Peasants and Workers Party of India|votes12=992187|seats12=2

|party13=All India Forward Bloc|votes13=963058|seats13=1

|party14=All India Ganatantra Parishad|votes14=959749|seats14=6

|party15=Tamil Nadu Toilers' Party|votes15=889292|seats15=4

|party16=Jharkhand Party|votes16=749702|seats16=3

|party17=Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|votes17=468108|seats17=3

|party18=Commonweal Party|votes18=325398|seats18=3

|party19=Lok Sewak Sangh|votes19=309940|seats19=2

|party20=Zamindar Party|votes20=291300|seats20=0

|party21=Chota Nagpur Santhal Parganas Janata Party|votes21=236094|seats21=1

|party22=Uttar Pradesh Praja Party|votes22=213656|seats22=0

|party23=S.K. Paksha|votes23=137343|seats23=0

|party24=All India Forward Bloc (Ruikar)|votes24=133936|seats24=0

|party25=Kamgar Kisan Paksha|votes25=132574|seats25=0

|party26=Tribal Sangha|votes26=116629|seats26=0

|party27=Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress|votes27=115893|seats27=1

|party28=Kerala Socialist Party|votes28=102098|seats28=0

|party29=Indian Union Muslim League|votes29=79470|seats29=1

|party30=Revolutionary Communist Party of India|votes30=67275|seats30=0

|party31=Justice Party (India)|votes31=63254|seats31=0

|party32=All India United Kisan Sabha|votes32=60254|seats32=0

|party33=All India Republican Party (RPP)|votes33=57815|seats33=0

|party34=All India Republican Party (REP)|votes34=44286|seats34=0

|party35=All People's Party (Assam)|votes35=36851|seats35=0

|party36=Tamil Nadu Congress Party|votes36=36158|seats36=0

|party37=Khasi-Jaintia Durbar|votes37=32987|seats37=0

|party38=Saurashtra Khedut Sangh|votes38=29766|seats38=0

|party39=Bolshevik Party of India|votes39=25792|seats39=0

|party40=All Manipur National Union|votes40=22083|seats40=0

|party41=Uttar Pradesh Revolutionary Socialist Party|votes41=20665|seats41=0

|party42=Hill People Party|votes42=17350|seats42=0

|party43=Krishak Sramik Party|Praja Party|votes43=16955|seats43=0

|party44=Kuki National Association|votes44=12155|seats44=0

|party45=Punjab Depressed Class League|votes45=11789|seats45=0

|party46=Pursharathi Panchayat|votes46=10778|seats46=0

|party47=Cochin Party|votes47=8947|seats47=0

|party48=Kisan Mazdoor Mandal|votes48=8808|seats48=0

|party49=Hyderabad State Praja Party|votes49=7646|seats49=0

|party50=Gandhi Sebak Seva|votes50=7196|seats50=0

|party51=Kisan Janta Sanyukta Party|votes51=6390|seats51=0

|party52=National Party of India|votes52=3232|seats52=0

|party53=Historical Research|votes53=1468|seats53=0

|party54=Independents|votes54=16850089|seats54=37

|row55=Appointed members|votes55=0|seats55=10

}}

{{Election results

|image=File:18th Lok Sabha.svg

|alliance1=National Democratic Alliance|aspan1=27

|party1=Bharatiya Janata Party|votes1=235974144|seats1=240

|party2=Telugu Desam Party|votes2=12775270|seats2=16

|party3=Janata Dal (United)|votes3=8039663|seats3=12

|party4=Shiv Sena|votes4=7401447|seats4=7

|party5=Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)|votes5=2810250|seats5=5

|party6=Janata Dal (Secular)|votes6=2173701|seats6=2

|party7=Jana Sena Party|votes7=1454138|seats7=2

|party8=Rashtriya Lok Dal|votes8=893460|seats8=2

|party9=All Jharkhand Students Union|votes9= 458677|seats9=1

|party10=Nationalist Congress Party|votes10=2059179|seats10=1

|party11=United People's Party Liberal|votes11=488995|seats11=1

|party12=Sikkim Krantikari Morcha|votes12=164396|seats12=1

|party13=Apna Dal (Soneylal)|votes13=808245|seats13=1

|party14=Asom Gana Parishad|votes14=1298707|seats14=1

|party15=Hindustani Awam Morcha|votes15=494960|seats15=1

|party16=Pattali Makkal Katchi|votes16=1879689|seats16=0

|party17=Bharath Dharma Jana Sena|votes17=505753|seats17=0

|party18=Tamil Maanila Congress|votes18=410401|seats18=0

|party19=Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam|votes19=521787|seats19=0

|party20=National People's Party|votes20=417930|seats20=0

|party21=Naga People's Front|votes21=299536|seats21=0

|party22=Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party|votes22=350967|seats22=0

|party23=Rashtriya Lok Morcha|votes23=253876|seats23=0

|party24=Rashtriya Samaj Paksha|votes24=467282|seats24=0

|party25=Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party|votes25=340188|seats25=0

|party26=Independent|votes26=342882|seats26=0

|atotalnv27=y|avotes27=283085523|aseats27=293

|alliance28=Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance|aspan28=26

|party28=Indian National Congress|votes28=136759064|seats28=99

|party29=Samajwadi Party|votes29=29549381|seats29=37

|party30=All India Trinamool Congress|votes30=28213393|seats30=29

|party31=Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|votes31=11754710|seats31=22

|party32=Communist Party of India (Marxist)|votes32=11342553|seats32=4

|party33=Rashtriya Janata Dal|votes33=10107402|seats33=4

|party34=Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)|votes34=9567779|seats34=9

|party35=Aam Aadmi Party|votes35=7147800|seats35=3

|party36=Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar|votes36=5921162|seats36=8

|party37=Communist Party of India|votes37=3157184|seats37=2

|party38=Jharkhand Mukti Morcha|votes38=2652955|seats38=3

|party39=Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation|votes39=1736771|seats39=2

|party40=Indian Union Muslim League|votes40=1716186|seats40=3

|party41=Jammu and Kashmir National Conference|votes41=1147041|seats41=2|

|party42=Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi|votes42=990237|seats42=2

|party43=Bharat Adivasi Party|votes43=1257056|seats43=1

|party44=Kerala Congress|votes44=364631|seats44=1

|party45=Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|votes45=542213|seats45=1|

|party46=Rashtriya Loktantrik Party|votes46=596955|seats46=1

|party47=Revolutionary Socialist Party|votes47=587363|seats47=1

|party48=All India Forward Bloc|votes48=289941|seats48=0

|party49=Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party|votes49=435980|seats49=0

|party50=Vikassheel Insaan Party|votes50=1187455|seats50=0

|party51=Assam Jatiya Parishad|votes51=414441|seats51=0

|party52=Kerala Congress (Mani)|votes52=277365|seats52=0

|atotalnv54=y|avotes54=283085308|aseats54=234

|alliance55=YSR Congress Party|votes55=13316039|seats55=4

|alliance56=Shiromani Akali Dal|votes56=1814318|seats56=1

|alliance57=All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen|votes57=1400215|seats57=1

|alliance58=Zoram People's Movement|votes58=208552|seats58=1

|alliance59=Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram)|votes59=691820|seats59=1

|alliance60=Voice of the People Party (Meghalaya)|votes60=571078|seats60=1

|alliance61=All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|votes61=8952587|seats61=0

|alliance62=Bahujan Samaj Party|votes62=13153818|seats62=0

|alliance63=Karnataka Rashtra Samithi|votes63=51529|seats63=0

|alliance64=Biju Janata Dal|votes64=9413379|seats64=0

|alliance65=Uttama Prajaakeeya Party|votes65=40491|seats65=0

|alliance66=Bharat Rashtra Samithi|votes66=3657237|seats66=0

|alliance67=Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)|votes67=521749|seats67=0

|alliance68=Indian National Lok Dal|votes68=226975|seats68=0

|alliance69=Jannayak Janta Party|votes69=113827|seats69=0

|alliance70=Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam|votes70=1128616|seats70=0

|alliance71=Gondwana Ganatantra Party|votes71=0|seats71=0

|alliance72=All India United Democratic Front|votes72=625954|seats72=0

|alliance73=Revolutionary Goans Party|votes73=64578|seats73=0

|alliance74=Sikkim Democratic Front|votes74=77171|seats74=0

|alliance75=Bodoland People's Front|votes75=777570|seats75=0

|alliance76=Mizo National Front|votes76=140264|seats76=0

|alliance77=United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|votes77=44563|seats77=0

|alliance78=Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party|votes78=23268|seats78=0

|alliance79=Other|votes79=0|seats79=0|

|alliance80=Independents|votes80=0|seats=7

|row81=None of the above (India)|votes81=6372220|seats81=0

}}

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous authority of India that is enacted under the provisions of the Constitution, responsible for monitoring and administering Union and State election processes in India. This body is responsible for ensuring elections are free and fair, without any bias.It derived its powers from A 324 of the constitution {{cite web |url=http://www.eci.gov.in/about-eci/the_setup.aspx |title=A Constitutional Body |publisher=Election Commission of India }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The ECI, established as a permanent Constitutional Body, is entrusted by the Constitution with the superintendence, direction, and control of the entire electoral process for Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice President of India.

Elections ensure the conduct of members pre-elections, during elections, and post-elections is as per the statutory legislation.

All election-related disputes are handled by the Election Commission. The Supreme Court of India has held that where the enacted laws are silent or make insufficient provisions to deal with a given situation in the conduct of elections, the Election Commission has the residuary powers under the Constitution to act as appropriate. The first chief election Commissioner was Sukumar Sen.

The elections for the President and Vice President of India, the Rajya Sabha (council of states) and Lok Sabha (house of the people), State Legislative Assemblies (including Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Puducherry), and State Legislative Councils are conducted by the Election Commission of India.

The State Election Commission (SEC) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering elections to the 3rd tier of governance, i.e., the Local Government, which includes the Panchayati Raj Institutions and the Urban Local Bodies. As per the constitutional provision, superintendence, direction, and control of the conduct of Elections to Urban & Rural Local bodies vest in State Election Commission.

State Election Commission consists of a State Election Commissioner, who is appointed by the Governor for a fixed tenure of 5 years and cannot be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.

The elections to local self-government institutions, such as panchayats and municipalities, are conducted by the respective State Election Commissions (SECs).{{Cite web |title=Role of SEC- State Election Commission, Maharashtra |url=https://mahasec.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/1376/Role-of-SEC?format=print |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=mahasec.maharashtra.gov.in}}

• Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission

• Arunachal Pradesh State Election Commission

• Assam State Election Commission

• Bihar State Election Commission

• Chhattisgarh State Election Commission

• Delhi State Election Commission

• Goa State Election Commission

• Gujarat State Election Commission

• Haryana State Election Commission

• Himachal Pradesh State Election Commission

• Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission

• Jharkhand State Election Commission

• Karnataka State Election Commission

• Kerala State Election Commission

• Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission

• Maharashtra State Election Commission

• Manipur State Election Commission

• Meghalaya State Election Commission

• Mizoram State Election Commission

• Nagaland State Election Commission

• Odisha State Election Commission

• Puducherry State Election Commission

• Punjab State Election Commission

• Rajasthan State Election Commission

• Sikkim State Election Commission

• Tamil Nadu State Election Commission

• Telangana State Election Commission

• Tripura State Election Commission

• Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission

• Uttarakhand State Election Commission

• West Bengal State Election Commission

Elections in the Republic of India include elections for

• President of India,
• Vice President of India,
• Members of the Parliament in Rajya Sabha (Upper house) and Lok Sabha (Lower house),
• Members of State Legislative Councils,
• Members of State Legislative Assemblies (includes legislative assemblies of three union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Puducherry)
• Members of local governance bodies (Municipal bodies and Panchayats),
• A By-election is held when a seat-holder of a particular constituency dies, resigns, or is disqualified.

Members of Lok Sabha (House of the People), or the lower house of India's Parliament, are elected by being voted upon by all adult citizens of India (who crossed 18 years of age) from a set of candidates who contest in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of India can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the Lok Sabha elections are called 'Members of Parliament' and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the President on the advice of the council of ministers. The house meets in the Lok Sabha Chambers of the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi, on matters relating to the creation of new laws and removing or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens of India. Elections take place once in 5 years to elect 543 members for the Lok Sabha (Lower house).{{cite web|url=https://eci.gov.in/elections/term-of-houses/|title=Terms of the Houses|publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=19 February 2020}}

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|+ style="text-align: left;" | General election results (Lok Sabha)

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Members of the State Legislative Assembly are elected directly by voting from a set of candidates who contest in their respective constituencies. Every adult citizen of India can vote only in their constituency. Candidates who win the State Legislative Assemblies elections are called 'Members of Legislative Assembly' (MLA) and hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the Governor. The house meets in the respective state, on matters relating to the creation of new laws, removing, or improving the existing laws that affect all citizens living in that state.

The total strength of each assembly depends on each State, mostly based on size and population. Similar to the Lok Sabha elections, the leader of the majority party/alliance takes an oath as Chief Minister of the State.

The Election Commission conducts the elections and provides a voluntary facility to 80-plus-year-old electors to vote through ballot papers at their homes depending upon polling booth accessibility. Elections are taken up enthusiastically by a major portion of the population, who turn out in high numbers.

For example, An 83-year-old woman, Dolma, cast her vote at the Chasak Bhatori polling station in the Pangi area of the Chamba district after covering 14 kilometers walking on a snowy road during the 2022 assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/himachal-pradesh/news/assembly-elections-2022-66-voter-turnout-in-himachal-pradesh-worlds-highest-booth-sees-100-polling/articleshow/95476760.cms | title=Assembly elections 2022: 66% voter turnout in Himachal Pradesh, world's highest booth sees 100% polling | Himachal-Pradesh Election News |date=November 12, 2022 | website=The Times of India }}

Prior to the much awaited Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the state assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana are an important political event. November 7 and November 17 are the scheduled dates for Chhattisgarh's elections, while Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana will hold their votes on November 17, November 23, and November 30, respectively. The political climate before the national elections is anticipated to be shaped by the outcomes of these elections, which are anticipated to be declared on December 3. Key political players in these states are diverse and competing for domination, such as the Indian National Congress (INC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and other regional parties. These states differ in the quantity of assembly seats they have; Chhattisgarh has ninety {{Cite web |title= Assembly elections in 5 states explained in 4 charts|date=9 October 2023 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/four-pointers-explaining-the-upcoming-assembly-elections-101696838029260.html}} seats.

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When an elected candidate to either the State Assembly, Lok Sabha, or Rajya Sabha leaves the office vacant before their term ends, a by-election is conducted to find a suitable replacement to fill the vacant position. It is often referred to in India as bypolls.

Common reasons for by-elections:

• Resignation by the sitting MP or MLA
• Death of the sitting MP or MLA

But other reasons occur when the incumbent becomes ineligible to continue in office (criminal conviction, failure to maintain a minimum level of attendance in the office, due to election irregularities found later, or when a candidate wins more than one seat and has to vacate one).

{{Main|Rajya Sabha}}

The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States, is the upper house of India's Parliament. Candidates are not elected directly by the citizens but by the members of legislative assemblies and up to 13 can be nominated by the President of India for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services. Members of the Parliament in Rajya Sabha get a tenure of six years, with one-third of the body facing re-election every two years. Rajya Sabha acts as a second-level review body before a bill becomes an act.{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rajya-sabha-election-2017-here-is-how-members-are-elected-to-upper-house-1734558|title=Rajya Sabha Election 2017: Here Is How Members Are Elected To Upper House|website=NDTV.com|access-date=29 April 2019}}

The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who presides over its sessions.

The legislative proposals (making new laws, removing, or appending new conditions to the existing law) are brought before either house of the Parliament in the form of a bill. A bill is the draft of a legislative proposal, which, when passed by both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and assented to by the President, becomes an Act of Parliament.

The Constitution of India, however, places some restrictions on the Rajya Sabha, which makes the Lok Sabha more powerful in certain areas. For example, it stipulates that money bills must originate in the Lok Sabha.

Members of Rajya Sabha debate bills sent by the Lok Sabha and can approve, reject, or send the bill back to the Lok Sabha for further debate and discussion on the matter, as well as to suggest better changes in the drafted bill. Members of the Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations to the Lok Sabha for money bills within 14 days. If the Rajya Sabha fails to return the money bill in 14 days to the Lok Sabha, that bill is deemed to have passed by both the houses. Also, if the Lok Sabha rejects any (or all) of the amendments proposed by the Rajya Sabha, the bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses of Parliament of India in the form in which the Lok Sabha finally passes it.

Candidates are required to file their nomination papers with the Electoral Commission. Then, a list of candidates is published. No party is allowed to use government resources for campaigning. No party is allowed to bribe the candidates before elections. The government cannot start a project during the election period. Campaigning ends by 6:00 pm two days before the polling day.

The polling is held between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm. The Collector of each district is in charge of polling. Government employees are employed as poll officers at the polling stations. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used instead of ballot boxes to prevent election fraud. After the citizen votes, his or her left index finger is marked with indelible ink. This practice was instituted in 1962.

File:Privacy Shields - Voting Booth used in India 01.jpg

The Election Commission of India has granted permission for individuals aged 80 and above and those with physical challenges to cast their votes from the comfort of their homes using ballot papers.{{cite web | title=EC provides facility to voters above 80 years of age & Divyanga to vote from home | website=News On AIR - News Services Division | date=13 November 2023 | url=https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=EC-provides-facility-to-voters-above-80-years-of-age-%26-Divyanga-to-vote-from-home&id=470919 | access-date=13 November 2023}} To avail of this facility, eligible individuals must register with the designated booth-level officer at least 10 days prior to the election date. The necessary Form 12-D for facilitating the postal ballot has to be submitted well in advance. A dedicated team of five officers, including a polling officer, micro observer, police officer, and photographer, will visit their residences to ensure a smooth and transparent polling process. The entire polling procedure will be documented through photographs and videos. While the option to vote from home is voluntary, the decision cannot be reversed later once an elector chooses this method. Election officials in Bhopal, India, are actively reaching out to the residences of super senior citizens (aged above 80 years) and voters with disabilities to provide assistance in submitting their votes through postal ballots for 2023 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections.{{cite web | last=Ayub | first=Jamal | title=Vote From Home: Madhya Pradesh Polling Stations Come To The Doorstep For Elderly & Disabled | website=The Times of India | date=8 November 2023 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/vote-from-home-polling-stations-come-to-the-doorstep-for-elderly-disabled/articleshow/105054443.cms | access-date=13 November 2023}}

In the 2024 lok sabha elections, ECI extended the "vote-from-home" option to people aged 85 years and above and to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) for the first time in the history of the Lok Sabha elections. The goal of this move is to improve participation and accessibility in the electoral process.{{Cite news |last1=Kalia |first1=Saumya |date=23 March 2024 |title=All about the vote-from-home facility in the Lok Sabha elections | Explained |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/all-about-the-vote-from-home-facility-in-the-lok-sabha-elections-explained/article67971618.ece |newspaper=The Hindu}}{{Cite web |title=ECI walks the extra mile to reach at the doorstep of elderly and PwD voters |url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=2017764 |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=pib.gov.in}}

File:Vote From Home Option For People Above 80 Or With Disabilities in India.jpg]]

File:Ink used in India Elections.jpg

File:Ink Bottle used in Indian Elections.jpg

Research into indelible ink was commenced by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). In the 1950s, M. L. Goel worked on this research at the Chemical Division of the National Physical Laboratory of India. The ink used contains silver nitrate, which makes it photo-sensitive. It is stored in amber-colored plastic or brown-colored glass bottles. On application, the ink remains on the finger for at least two days. It may last up to a month, depending on the person's body temperature and the environment.

{{main|Electronic voting in India}}

File:Voting machine in India.jpg

BHAVIK (EVM) were first used in the 1997 election and became the only method of voting in 2004. The EVMs save time in reporting results. A voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) was introduced on 14 August 2014 in Nagaland.{{cite press release | title = EC Decides to use VVPAT System at Bye-Election in Nagaland | publisher = Press Information Bureau | date = 17 August 2013 | url = http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=98322 | access-date = 18 August 2013}} In the 2014 general election, VVPAT was operational in 8 constituencies (Lucknow, Gandhinagar, Bangalore South, Chennai Central, Jadavpur, Raipur, Patna Sahib and Mizoram) as a pilot project.References:

• {{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-evm-paper-trail-introduced-in-8-of-543-constituencies-1982463|title=EVM-paper trail introduced in 8 of 543 constituencies|work=dna|access-date=23 November 2014|date=27 April 2014}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/elections-2014/ls-polls-voters-to-get-automated-receipts-at-gandhinagar-114042901134_1.html|title=LS polls: Voters to get 'automated-receipts' at Gandhinagar|author=Press Trust of India|date=29 April 2014|publisher=Business-standard.com|access-date=23 November 2014|newspaper=Business Standard India}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/vvpat-machine-to-be-on-demonstration-for-10-days/article5868161.ece|title=VVPAT machine to be on demonstration for 10 days|author=Staff Reporter|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=23 November 2014|date=4 April 2014}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/vvpat-to-be-introduced-in-jadavpur-constituency-35049.html|title=VVPAT to be introduced in Jadavpur constituency|publisher=Indiatvnews.com|access-date=23 November 2014|date=2 April 2014}}
• [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Patna-Sahib-electorate-can-see-who-they-voted-for/articleshow/33351551.cms Patna Sahib electorate can see who they voted for - The Times of India]
• {{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/EVM-slip-will-help-verify-your-vote/articleshow/34304320.cms |title=EVM slip will help verify your vote |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=28 April 2014 |access-date=28 May 2019}}
• [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/400-EVMs-on-standby-for-Patna-Sahib-Pataliputra/articleshow/33836327.cms 400 EVMs on standby for Patna Sahib, Pataliputra]
• {{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/VVPAT-to-Debut-in-B%E2%80%99lore-South/2014/04/04/article2148837.ece|title=VVPAT to Debut in B'lore South|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=23 November 2014}}
• {{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/voter-verifiable-paper-audit-trail-system-comes-to-chennai/article5856087.ece|title=Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail system comes to Chennai|author=T. Ramakrishnan|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=23 November 2014|date=April 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-vvpat-a-revolutionary-step-in-voting-transparency-1982453|title=VVPAT, a revolutionary step in voting transparency|publisher=DNA |date=27 April 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014}} A slip generated by the VVPAT tells a voter to which party or candidate their vote has been given, their name, their constituency and their polling booth.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/not-many-were-aware-of-vvpat-but-were-happy-with-verification/article5925449.ece|title=Not many were aware of VVPAT, but were happy with verification|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=23 November 2014|date=18 April 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/safe-distance/|title=Safe distance|work=The Indian Express|access-date=23 November 2014|date=15 April 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/As-smooth-as-it-gets-says-city-poll-chief/articleshow/34174348.cms|title=As smooth as it gets, says city poll chief|work=The Times of India|date=25 April 2014 |access-date=23 November 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Ripon-Buildings-turns-nerve-centre-of-electoral-activities-in-Chennai/articleshow/34077158.cms|title=Ripon Buildings turns nerve centre of electoral activities in Chennai |website=The Times of India|date=22 April 2014 |access-date=13 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Voters-verifiable-paper-audit-trail-system-to-be-introduced-in-Chennai-Central-constituency/articleshow/33025999.cms|title=Voter's verifiable paper audit trail system to be introduced in Chennai Central constituency|website=The Times of India|access-date=3 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401160848/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Voters-verifiable-paper-audit-trail-system-to-be-introduced-in-Chennai-Central-constituency/articleshow/33025999.cms|archive-date=1 April 2014}}

Opposition parties demanded that VVPAT be made mandatory all over India due to allegations against the government of hacking the EVM. Accordingly, Voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPATs) and EVMs were used in every assembly and the general election in India since 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/ec-announces-lok-sabha-election-dates-vvpats-to-be-used-in-all-polling-stations-help-bring-more-accuracy-in-voting-6232831.html|title=EC announces Lok Sabha election dates: VVPATs, to be used in all polling stations, help bring more accuracy in voting|website=Firstpost|date=10 March 2019 |access-date=13 January 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/what-are-evms-vvpat-and-how-safe-they-are/articleshow/66969640.cms |title=What are EVMs, VVPAT and how safe they are |date=6 December 2018 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=10 January 2019}} On 9 April 2019, Supreme Court of India gave the judgement, ordering the Election Commission of India to increase the VVPAT slips vote count to five randomly selected EVMs per assembly constituency, which means the Election Commission of India has to count VVPAT slips of 20,625 EVMs in the 2019 General elections.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/count-vvpat-slips-of-5-booths-in-each-assembly-seat-sc/articleshow/68786810.cms|title=Supreme Court: Count VVPAT slips of 5 booths in each assembly seat | India News |website=The Times of India|date=9 April 2019 |access-date=13 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/vvpat-sc-elections-144122|title=Breaking: SC Directs ECI To Increase VVPAT Verification From One EVM To Five EVMs Per Constituency [Read Order]|first=MEHAL|last=JAIN|date=8 April 2019|website=www.livelaw.in|access-date=13 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.moneylife.in/article/when-the-sc-says-no-for-software-audit-review-of-evms-and-vvpat-at-present/56828.html|title=When the SC Says No for Software Audit Review of EVMs & VVPAT at Present|website=Moneylife NEWS & VIEWS|access-date=13 January 2020}} VVPAT enables voters to cross-check whether the vote they have given goes to their desired candidate, as the VVPAT unit produces a paper slip, additionally called a ballot slip, that contains the name, serial number, and image of the candidate selected by the voter for his vote. Post the 2019 general election, ECI declared that there were no mismatches between EVM and VVPAT.{{cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/evm-vvpat-pass-test-in-lok-sabha-polls/articleshow/69469579.cms?from=mdr | title=EVM-VVPAT pass test in Lok Sabha polls | newspaper=Economic Times | date=23 May 2019 | access-date=5 June 2019}}

{{further|None of the Above in Indian Elections}}

On 27 September 2013, the Supreme Court of India judged that citizens have the right to cast a negative vote by exercising the "None of the above" (NOTA) option. This was the result of petitioning by the Electoral Commission and the People's Union for Civil Liberties in 2009. In November 2013, NOTA was introduced in five state elections. Even if the number of electors opting for the NOTA option is more than the number of votes polled by any of the candidates, the candidate who secures the largest number of votes has to be declared elected.{{Cite web |title=ECI Press release - Supreme Court’s judgement for “None of the Above” option on EVM– clarification |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/current/PN_28102013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329124733/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/current/PN_28102013.pdf |archive-date=29 March 2017 |website=Election Commission of India}}

India does not provide general absentee voting.{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2004-04-05/news/27397034_1_ballot-papers-special-voters-electoral-roll|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016005123/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2004-04-05/news/27397034_1_ballot-papers-special-voters-electoral-roll|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2012|title=Who can vote by postal ballot?|work=The Economic Times|access-date=23 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-election-commission-to-ensure-postal-votes-dont-get-invalid-1914891|title=Election Commission to ensure postal votes don't get invalid|work=dna|access-date=23 November 2014|date=7 November 2013}} On 24 November 2010, the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2010 was gazetted to give voting rights to non-resident Indians but a physical presence at the voting booth is still required.{{cite web |url=http://voterswithoutborders.org |title=Petition for Absentee Voting in Indian Elections |publisher=Voterswithoutborders.org |access-date=6 August 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416234322/http://voterswithoutborders.org/ |archive-date=16 April 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nrivotingrights.info/ |title=People for Lok Satta- NRI voting campaign |publisher=Nrivotingrights.info |date=9 January 2011 |access-date=6 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405111303/http://www.nrivotingrights.info/ |archive-date=5 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Postal voting in India is done only through the "Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot Papers (ETPB)" system of the Election Commission of India, where ballot papers are distributed to the registered eligible voters, and they return the votes by post. When the counting of votes commences, these postal votes are counted before those from the Electronic Voting Machines. Only certain categories of people are eligible to register as postal voters. People working in the Union armed forces and state police, as well as their spouses and employees working for the Government of India who are officially posted abroad, can register for the postal vote; these are also called the "Service voters". Additionally, people in preventive detention, disabled, and those above the age of 80 years old can use postal votes. Prisoners cannot vote at all.[https://www.firstpost.com/india/postal-ballots-who-can-vote-through-etpb-how-to-get-registered-and-how-the-voting-is-done-an-explainer-6372611.html Postal ballots: Who can vote through ETPB, how to get registered and how the voting is done; an explainer], First Post, 2 April 2019.[https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/postal-ballots-how-to-vote-if-you-live-away-from-home_in_5c3c3d91e4b0e0baf53ec910 Maharashtra, Haryana Elections 2019: Can You Vote By Postal Ballot If You Aren't Living At Home?], Huffington Post, 26 September 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/people-over-80-years-of-age-disabled-can-now-vote-through-postal-ballot-1572319857-1|title=People over 80 years of age, disabled can now vote through postal ballot|first=Gorki|last=Bakshi|date=29 October 2019|access-date=22 September 2020}}

== Elections by statewise ==

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

1. Elections in Andhra Pradesh
2. Elections in Arunachal Pradesh
3. Elections in Assam
4. Elections in Bihar
5. Elections in Chhattisgarh
6. Elections in Delhi
7. Elections in Goa
8. Elections in Gujarat
9. Elections in Haryana
10. Elections in Himachal Pradesh
11. Elections in Jammu and Kashmir
12. Elections in Jharkhand
13. Elections in Karnataka
14. Elections in Kerala
15. Elections in Madhya Pradesh
16. Elections in Maharashtra
17. Elections in Manipur
18. Elections in Meghalaya
19. Elections in Mizoram
20. Elections in Nagaland
21. Elections in Odisha
22. Elections in Puducherry
23. Elections in Punjab
24. Elections in Rajasthan
25. Elections in Sikkim
26. Elections in Tamil Nadu
27. Elections in Telangana
28. Elections in Tripura
29. Elections in Uttar Pradesh
30. Elections in Uttarakhand
31. Elections in West Bengal

{{div col end|3}}

{{Portal|India|Politics}}

• 49-O Now replaced with 'NOTA (None of The Above)'
• Booth capturing
• Democracy in India
• History of democracy in the Indian-subcontinent
• Gopala I
• Election Commission of India
• Exercise Franchise For Good Governance
• Legislative Assembly elections in India
• British India - General Elections
• 1920 Indian general election
• 1923 Indian general election
• 1926 Indian general election
• 1930 Indian general election
• 1934 Indian general election
• 1945 Indian general election
• British India - Provincial Elections
• 1937 Indian provincial elections
• 1946 Indian provincial elections

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081207201816/http://www.eci.gov.in/ Election Commission of India]}}
• [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/i/india/ Adam Carr's election archive]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160502105938/http://eci.nic.in/archive/handbook/CANDIDATES/cch2/cch2_1.htm Qualification and disqualification]}} Election Commission of India handbook for candidates
• [https://elections-india.in/ Elections India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826102936/https://elections-india.in/ |date=26 August 2021 }}

{{Indian elections}}

{{Asia topic|Elections in}}

{{India topics}}