Page 43 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2
P. 43
A New Democracy on World Map Chapter 2
The twin electoral laws that govern the elections to the Parliament and state legislatures in India are the
Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951.
The Representation of the People Act, 1950 (originally enacted on May 13, 1950) deals with matters like allocation of
seats in the House of the People, in state legislative assemblies, in legislative councils (in states where they exist),
delimitation of the Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies, appointment of various electoral officers and
preparation of electoral rolls, etc.
e Representation of the People Act, 1951 (originally enacted on July 17, 1951) deals with matters like qualification
and disqualification of membership of House of the People, state legislative assemblies and legislative councils,
administrative machinery for conduct of the elections, registration of political parties, nomination of candidates,
appointment of polling and counting agents, conduct of the poll, counting of votes, publication of results, election
petitions and appeals thereof, corrupt practices, election offences, rules to be followed near polling stations etc.
An election campaign underway in the 1950s
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