Understanding the Voting Process in India: An Illustrated Overview of Democracy in Action

India is gearing up for the biggest general election in the world, where almost a billion people have the opportunity to cast their votes over a period of just over six weeks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is running for a third term in office, facing off against a coalition of opposition parties who are vying to replace him.

Here is a look at how the world’s most populous country votes in the world’s largest democracy.

Population

Home to over 1.4 billion people, with approximately 969 million eligible to vote in the upcoming election — surpassing the combined populations of North America and the European Union.

This means that around 12% of the global population will participate in the election, driven by various concerns such as unemployment, welfare benefits, infrastructure, and the importance of democracy. The number of registered female voters has seen a rise of 40 million since the last election in 2019, as reported by the election commission. Additionally, over 20 million new voters aged between 18-29 have been included in the electorate.

How the election works

Indians will be voting for 543 seats in the 545-seat lower house of parliament, called the Lok Sabha, with two other seats nominated by the country’s president.

The winning party will appoint one of its candidates as the prime minister and establish a governing body.

Voting will start on Friday, April 19, and run until June 1. The results will be revealed on June 4.

In some states, voting only takes place on one day. However, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and the eastern states of Bihar and West Bengal, which have a total population of 475 million, voting will be spread out over seven days. Here is how and when the election will occur:

Voting Process: In India, votes are cast electronically at over one million polling stations. This is a 1.2% increase from the number of stations in the previous election in 2019. From the Himalayas to the forests, people across the country will have the opportunity to participate in the voting process.

During the election, around 15 million polling officials and security staff are needed for this operation. Some of these election workers travel by road, boat, camel, train, and helicopters to reach India's citizens.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming Indian general election is a testament to the power of democracy and the importance of civic participation. With over a billion eligible voters, it is a remarkable display of the collective voice of the people. The surge in female and young voters reflects a growing awareness of their rights and a desire to shape their nation's future.

The logistics of such a massive election are staggering, requiring an army of officials and security personnel to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the process. The use of electronic voting machines at over a million polling stations reflects India's commitment to modernizing its electoral system and preventing fraud. The fact that voting will take place over a period of six weeks, with some states having multiple voting days, demonstrates the country's determination to accommodate its diverse population and ensure accessibility for all.