ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

The five year term of the 15thLok Sabha is due to expire on 31st May, 2014. Credible elections, conducted at regular prescribed intervals, are the very soul of any democratic system. Article 324 of the Constitution of India bestows the relevant powers, duties and functions upon the Election Commission of India while
Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for conduct of the elections to constitute a new Lok Sabha before the expiry of its current term. Taking into account these Constitutional and legal provisions, the Election Commission of India has made comprehensive preparations for conduct of elections to the 16th Lok Sabha in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

The General Election to the House of People, 2014 to constitute the 16th Lok Sabha shall be held on the basis of the extent of PCs as per “Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008”. The General Election to the House of People, 2009 was also held on the basis of the said PCs. Therefore, there is no change in the extent and status of PCs after 2009 General Election. Further, the total number of PCs allotted to various States and UTs, including SC/ ST seats continues to be the same. Similarly, General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim shall be held on the basis of the extent of Assembly Constituencies (ACs) as per 2008 Delimitation Order, as mentioned above. The total number of ACs allotted to these States including SC/ ST seats shall continue to be the same. 

PHOTO ELECTORAL ROLLS AND ELECTOR PHOTO IDENTITY CARDS
(EPIC)
13. The country had gone to polls with Photo Electoral Rolls for the first time in 2009. In that year the State of Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and Nagaland did not have Photo Electoral Rolls (PERs), and Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) were not distributed to electors in Assam and Nagaland. Now all States and UTs have PERs Rolls. Photographs of 98.64% electors are already printed in the electoral rolls. 95.64% electors have been given EPIC. The percentage of electors with EPIC and photographs in electoral rolls is likely to increase further before the elections. 17 States and UTs, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Goa, Daman &
Diu, NCT of Delhi, Lakshadweep, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Kerala have photographs of 100% electors in the electoral rolls. 16 States and UTs have 100% EPIC coverage. These are - Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, NCT of Delhi, Laskhadweep, Puducherry,
Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Kerala. Remaining electors are advised to submit their
photographs to obtain their EPIC from the concerned Electoral Registration Officer
(ERO) urgently. CEOs have been directed to maximize photo and EPIC coverage
in the electoral rolls before the elections.

Click here to See Schedule: