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General Frequently Asked Question
- Frequently Asked Questions asked by the citizen
Q 1. Which authority is empowered to conduct elections to the Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, Zila
Parishads and Municipal Corporations?
- The State Election Commission.
- Under the provisions contained in Article 243K read with Article 243ZA of the Constitution of India, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls/voter lists for all elections to the Panchayats (Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats) and Municipalities (Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Notified Areas) have been vested in the State Election Commission.
Q 2. What is the composition of the State Election Commission?
- The State Election Commission is a single member Commission comprising of the State Election Commissioner.
Q 3. Who appoints the State Election Commissioner?
- Under the provisions contained in Article 243K(1) of the Constitution of India, the Governor of West Bengal appoints the State Election Commissioner of the State.
Q 4. Who appoints the District Electoral Officers?
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In exercise of the powers contained in section 6(1) of the State Election Commission
Act, 1994, the State Election Commissioner appoints, in consultation with the State
Government, Distric Panchayat Election officers and District Municipal Election Officers
for peparation of Electoral Rolls for, and conduct of Elections to Panchayat
and Municipalities. State Election Commissioner of West Bengal has appointed all
the District Magistrates to act as District Panchayat Election officers and
District Municipal Election Officers.
Q 5. Who determines the total number of Constituencies of a Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad?
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The Prescribed Authority is responsible for determining the number of constituencies.
District Magistrate is Prescribed Authority for this purpose in respect of Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samity.
The State Election Commissioner is the Prescribed Authority for Zilla Parishad.
Q 6. Who decides the Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women in the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.?
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The Prescribed Authority decides reservations of seats. District Magistrate is Prescribed
Authority for this purpose in respect of Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samity.
The State Election Commissioner is the Prescribed Authority for Zilla Parishad.
Q 1. Who has right to vote in the Panchayat elections or Municipal Elections?
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All persons who have attained the age of eighteen years or above and are enrolled
as voters of the concerned
constituency are eligible to vote in the Panchayat elections or Municipal elections.
Q 2. Can a non-citizen of India become a voter?
Q 4. Can one be enrolled at more than one place ?
Q 1. Who has right to be elected as Member in the Panchayat elections or Municipal Elections?
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A Citizen of India who has attained the age of twenty one years and who is registered
as a voter of a particular local body is eligible to be a candidate of that local
body.
Q 2. If I am not registered as a voter in any Constituency, can I contest election?
Q 3. I am registered as a voter in Siliguri. Can I contest election from Kolkata or Chandannagar ?
- No.
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You are required to be voter of any constituency of that local body that is in respect
of a Municipality of that Municipality and in respect of Panchayat election
,a voter of the concerned Gram Panchayat, or Panchayat samity or Zilla Parishad
as the case may be.
Q 4. If some body is convicted for some offence and he is sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years, can he contest elections?
- No .
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As per Section 8 (3) of R. P. Act, 1951, if a person is convicted of any offence and sentenced to an imprisonment of 2 years or above, he will be disqualified to
contest election.
Q 5. Can a person confined in jail vote in an election?
Q 1. Who is responsible for the counting of votes and declaration of result of an election?
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The Sub Divitional Officer as the Returning officer is responsible for the counting
of votes and declaration of result of Zilla Parishad constituencies. The Block Development
Officer as the Returning Officer is responsible for the counting of votes and declaration
of result of Panchayat Samity constituencies and Gram Panchayat constituencies.The
Sub Divitional Officer as Returning Officer is responsible for the counting of votes and declaration of result
of Municipal Election. For the purpose of Kolkata Corporation Election, the State Election Commissioner separately
appoints Officers to act as Returning Officers. Such Returning Officers remain responsible for counting of votes and
declaration of results in respect of kolkata Municipal corporation election.
Q 1. What is an Electronic Voting machine?
- An Electronic Voting Machine consists of two Units - a Control Unit and a Balloting Unit - joined by a five-meter cable. The Control Unit is kept with the Presiding Officer or a Polling Officer and the Balloting Unit is placed inside the voting compartment. Instead of issuing a ballot paper, the Polling Officer in-charge of the Control Unit will press the Ballot Button. This will enable the voter to cast his vote by pressing the blue button on the Balloting Unit against the candidate and symbol of his choice.
Q 2. What is the maximum number of votes which can be cast in EVMs?
- EVMs can record a maximum of 3840 votes. As normally the total number of electors in a polling station will not exceed 1500, the capacity of EVMs is more than sufficient.
Q 3. How can EVMs be used in areas where there is no electricity?
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EVMs run on an ordinary 6 volt alkaline battery . Hence, no electrical connectivity
is required for operation of EVM.
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