View source for Elections in India

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{About||the last general election|2024 Indian general election}}
{{Politics of India}}
{{Elections}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
[[India]] has a [[parliamentary system]] as defined by its [[Constitution of India|constitution]], with power distributed between the [[Government of India|union government]] and the [[States and territories of India|states]]. [[Democracy in India|India's democracy]] is the largest [[democracy]] in the world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Richetta |first1=Cécile |last2=Harbers |first2=Imke |last3=van Wingerden |first3=Enrike |date=2023 |title=The subnational electoral coercion in India (SECI) data set, 1985–2015 |url=https://researchonline.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/120358/ |journal=Electoral Studies |volume=85 |article-number=102662 |doi=10.1016/j.electstud.2023.102662 |issn=0261-3794|doi-access=free }}</ref>

The [[President of India]] is the ceremonial head of state of the country and supreme commander-in-chief for all [[Indian Armed Forces|defense forces]] in India. However, it is the [[Prime Minister of India]], who is the leader of the [[political party|party]] or [[political alliance]] having a majority in the national elections to the [[Lok Sabha]] (Lower house of the [[Parliament of India|Parliament]]). The Prime Minister is the leader of the legislative branch of the [[Government of India]]. The Prime Minister is the head of the [[Union Council of Ministers]].

India is regionally divided into States (and [[Union territory|Union Territories]]) and each State has a [[Governor (India)|Governor]] who is the state's head, but the executive authority rests with the [[Chief Minister (India)|Chief Minister]], who is the leader of the party or political alliance that has won a majority in the regional elections, otherwise known as State Assembly Elections that exercises executive powers in that State. The respective State's Chief Minister has executive powers within the State and works jointly with the Prime Minister of India or their ministers on matters that require both State and Central attention. Some Union Territories also elect an Assembly and have a territorial government, and other (mainly smaller) Union Territories are governed by an administrator/[[Governor (India)|lieutenant governor]] appointed by the President of India.

The President of India monitors the rule of law through their appointed governors in each State and on their recommendation, can take over the executive powers from the Chief Minister of the State temporarily when the elected representatives of the State government have failed to create a peaceful environment and it has deteriorated into chaos. The President of India dissolves the existing State government if necessary, and a new election is conducted.

The Republic of India has instituted [[universal suffrage]] since independence from the [[British Raj]], with the adoption of the [[Constitution of India]] in 1949.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lok Sabha polls 2024: What is universal adult franchise? |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/lok-sabha-polls-2024-what-is-universal-adult-franchise-2-2956461 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Did the British Empire resist women's suffrage in India? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43081429 |website=BBC News |date=22 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bhatia |first1=Gautam |title=The 1947 singularity: on India's adoption of universal suffrage |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-1947-singularity/article22870618.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=27 February 2018}}</ref>

==Results in history==
===1951–52 Indian general election===
{{Election results
|image=[[File:1951-1952_Indian_General_Election.svg|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
|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
}}

==Latest election==

Full entry [[2024 Indian general election]]
{{Election results
|image=[[File:India 18th Lok Sabha November 2024.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 (2022–present)|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]] (no longer part of the [[National Democratic Alliance]])|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 (India)|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 (politician)|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]] (no longer part of the [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]])|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 (India)|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=275120890|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)]] (MP died in office) |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=[[Independent (politician)|Independents]]|votes80=0|seats=7
|row81=[[None of the above (India)]]|votes81=6372220|seats81=0
}}

== Election Commission of India ==
The [[Election Commission of India]] (ECI) is an autonomous authority of India that is enacted under the provisions of the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]], responsible for monitoring and administering [[Government of India|Union]] and [[State governments of India|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 <ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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 of India|Parliament]], [[State legislature (India)|State Legislatures]], and the offices of the [[President of India|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 of India|chief election Commissioner]] was [[Sukumar Sen (civil servant)|Sukumar Sen]].

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

== State Election Commissions ==
The [[State election commission (India)|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 in India|Panchayati Raj Institutions]] and the [[Municipal governance in India|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 (India)|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 [[Panchayati raj in India|panchayats]] and [[Municipal governance in India|municipalities]], are conducted by the respective [[State election commission (India)|State Election Commissions]] (SECs).<ref>{{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}}</ref> 

=== List of State Election Commissions ===

* [[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]]

==Types of elections==
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)
*Members of the Parliament in [[Lok Sabha]] (Lower house),
*Members of [[State Legislative Council (India)|State Legislative Councils]] (Upper house)
*Members of [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|State Legislative Assemblies]] (Lower house/Unicameral house)
*Members of [[Delhi Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly of National Capital Territory of Delhi]]
*Members of [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir]]
*Members of [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly of Union Territory of Puducherry]]
*Members of [[Local government in India|local governance bodies]] ([[Municipal governance in India|Municipal bodies]] and [[Panchayati raj|Panchayats]]),
*A [[By-election]] is held when a seat-holder of a particular constituency dies, resigns, or is disqualified.

=== Parliamentary general elections (Lok Sabha) ===
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).<ref>{{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}}</ref>

<div class="overflowbugx" style="overflow-x:auto;">
{|class="wikitable"
|+ style="text-align: left;" | General election results ''(Lok Sabha)''
|-
|[[File:Indian General Election 1951–1952.svg|thumb|[[1st Lok Sabha]] [[1951–52 Indian general election|(1951–52)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1957.svg|thumb|[[2nd Lok Sabha]][[1957 Indian general election|(1957)]]]]
| 
|[[File:Indian General Election 1967.svg|thumb|[[4th Lok Sabha]][[1967 Indian general election|(1967)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1971.svg|thumb|[[5th Lok Sabha]][[1971 Indian general election|(1971)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1977.svg|thumb|[[6th Lok Sabha]][[1977 Indian general election|(1977)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1980.svg|thumb|[[7th Lok Sabha]][[1980 Indian general election|(1980)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1984.svg|thumb|[[8th Lok Sabha]][[1984 Indian general election|(1984)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1989.svg|thumb|[[9th Lok Sabha]][[1989 Indian general election|(1989)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1991.svg|thumb|[[10th Lok Sabha]][[1991 Indian general election|(1991)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1996.svg|thumb|[[11th Lok Sabha]][[1996 Indian general election|(1996)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1998.svg|thumb|[[12th Lok Sabha]][[1998 Indian general election|(1998)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 1999.svg|thumb|[[13th Lok Sabha]][[1999 Indian general election|(1999)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 2004.svg|thumb|[[14th Lok Sabha]][[2004 Indian general election|(2004)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 2009.svg|thumb|[[15th Lok Sabha]][[2009 Indian general election|(2009)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 2014.svg|thumb|[[16th Lok Sabha]][[2014 Indian general election|(2014)]]]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 2019.svg|thumb|[[17th Lok Sabha]] ([[2019 Indian general election|2019]])]]
|[[File:Indian General Election 2024.svg|thumb|[[18th Lok Sabha]][[2024 Indian general election|(2024)]]]]
|}
</div>

===History of Lok Sabha elections===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+[[Lok Sabha]] elections<ref name="LS_Results">{{cite web|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/99-general-election-archive-1951-2004/|title=Lok Sabha Election Results 1951-2004|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/98-general-election-2009/|title=Lok Sabha Election Results 2009|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/97-general-election-2014/|title=General Election 2014 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=5 April 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415030717/https://eci.gov.in/files/category/97-general-election-2014/ |archive-date=Apr 15, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/1551-general-election-2019-including-vellore-pc/|title=General Election 2019 (Including Vellore PC) |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=5 April 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724131155/https://eci.gov.in/files/category/1551-general-election-2019-including-vellore-pc/ |archive-date=Jul 24, 2021 }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan=2|Lok Sabha<br/>{{small|(Election)}}
!rowspan=2|Total Seats
!colspan=4|First
!colspan=4|Second
!colspan=4|Third
|-
!colspan=2|Political party
!Seats
!Percentage of votes
!colspan=2|Political party
!Seats
!Percentage of votes
!colspan=2|Political party
!Seats
!Percentage of votes
|-
|[[1st Lok Sabha|1st]]<br/>{{small|([[1951–52 Indian general election|1951–52]])}}
|489
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|rowspan=4 {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|364
|44.99%
|[[Communist Party of India]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
|16
|3.29%
|[[Socialist Party (India, 1948)|Socialist Party]]
|{{party color cell|Socialist Party (India)}}
|12
|10.59%
|-
|[[2nd Lok Sabha|2nd]]<br/>{{small|([[1957 Indian general election|1957]])}}
|494
|[[Indian  National Congress]]
|371
|47.78%
|[[Communist Party of India]]
|27
|8.92%
|[[Praja Socialist Party]]
|{{party color cell|Praja Socialist Party}}
|19
|10.41%
|-
|[[3rd Lok Sabha|3rd]]<br/>{{small|([[1962 Indian general election|1962]])}}
|494
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|361
|44.72%
|[[Communist Party of India]]
|29
|9.94%
|[[Swatantra Party]]
|{{party color cell|Swatantra Party}}
|18
|7.89%
|-
|[[4th Lok Sabha|4th]]<br/>{{small|([[1967 Indian general election|1967]])}}
|520
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|283
|40.78%
|[[Swatantra Party]]
|{{party color cell|Swatantra Party}}
|44
|8.67%
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|{{party color cell|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
|35
|9.31%
|-
|[[5th Lok Sabha|5th]]<br/>{{small|([[1971 Indian general election|1971]])}}
|518
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}      
|352
|43.68%
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|{{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|25
|5.12%
|[[Communist Party of India]]
|{{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
|23
|4.73%
|-
|[[6th Lok Sabha|6th]]<br/>{{small|([[1977 Indian general election|1977]])}}
|542
|[[Janata Party]]
|{{party color cell|Janata Party}}
|295
|41.32%
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|154
|34.52%
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|22
|4.29%
|-
|[[7th Lok Sabha|7th]]<br/>{{small|([[1980 Indian general election|1980]])}}
|529
|[[Indian National Congress (Indira)]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|353
|42.69%
|[[Janata Party (Secular)]]
|{{party color cell|Janata Party (Secular)}}
|41
|9.39%
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|37
|6.24%
|-
|[[8th Lok Sabha|8th]]<br/>{{small|([[1984 Indian general election|1984]])}}
|541
|[[Indian National Congress (Indira)]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|414
|48.12%
|[[Telugu Desam Party]]
|{{party color cell|Telugu Desam Party}}
|30
|4.06%
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|22
|5.72%
|-
|[[9th Lok Sabha|9th]]<br/>{{small|([[1989 Indian general election|1989]])}}
|529
|[[Indian National Congress (Indira)]]
|197
|39.53%
|[[Janata Dal]]
|{{party color cell|Janata Dal}}
|143
|17.79%
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|{{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|85
|11.36%
|-
|[[10th Lok Sabha|10th]]<br/>{{small|([[1991 Indian general election|1991]])}}
|534
|[[Indian National Congress (Indira)]]
|244
|36.40%
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|{{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|120
|20.07%
|[[Janata Dal]]
|rowspan=2 {{party color cell|Janata Dal}}
|59
|11.73%
|-
|[[11th Lok Sabha|11th]]<br/>{{small|([[1996 Indian general election|1996]])}}
|543
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|161
|20.29%
|[[Indian National Congress (Indira)]]
|{{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
|140
|28.80%
|[[Janata Dal]]
|46
|8.08%
|-
|[[12th Lok Sabha|12th]]<br/>{{small|([[1998 Indian general election|1998]])}}
|543
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|182
|25.59%
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|rowspan=2 {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|141
|25.82%
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|32
|5.16%
|-
|[[13th Lok Sabha|13th]]<br/>{{small|([[1999 Indian general election|1999]])}}
|543
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|182
|23.75%
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|114
|28.30%
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|33
|5.40%
|-
|[[14th Lok Sabha|14th]]<br/>{{small|([[2004 Indian general election|2004]])}}
|543
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|rowspan=2 {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|145
|26.53%
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|rowspan=2 {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|138
|22.16%
|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|43
|5.66%
|-
|[[15th Lok Sabha|15th]]<br/>{{small|([[2009 Indian general election|2009]])}}
|543
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|206
|28.55%
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|116
|18.80%
|[[Samajwadi Party]]
|{{party color cell|Samajwadi Party}}
|23
|3.23%
|-
|[[16th Lok Sabha|16th]]<br/>{{small|([[2014 Indian general election|2014]])}}
|543
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|282
|31.34%
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|rowspan=3 {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|44
|19.52%
|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|37
|3.31%
|-
|[[17th Lok Sabha|17th]]<br/>{{small|([[2019 Indian general election|2019]])}}
|543
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|303
|37.70%
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|52
|19.67%
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|{{party color cell|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|24
|2.36%
|-
|[[18th Lok Sabha|18th]]<br/>{{small|([[2024 Indian general election|2024]])}}
|543
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|240
|36.56%
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|99
|21.19%
|[[Samajwadi Party]]
|{{party color cell|Samajwadi Party}}
|37
|4.58%
|}

=== State Assembly elections ===
Members of the [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|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 Assembly (India)|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 Valley|Pangi]] area of the [[Chamba district]] after covering 14 kilometers walking on a snowy road during the 2022 assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.<ref>{{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 &#124; Himachal-Pradesh Election News |date=November 12, 2022  | website=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref>

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 <ref>{{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}}</ref> seats.
{{sticky header}}
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible sticky-header" style="text-align:center;"
|+Legislative Assembly Elections
!State/UT !! 1950s !! 1960s !! 1970s !! 1980s !! 1990s !! 2000s !! 2010s !! 2020s
|-
![[Elections in Andhra Pradesh|AP]] 
| [[1955 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|AS 1955]] <br /> [[1957 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1962 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1978 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1978]]
| [[1983 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1983]] <br /> [[1985 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1985]] <br /> [[1989 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
| [[1994 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1994]] <br /> [[1999 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1999]]
| [[2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2004]] <br /> [[2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2009]]
| [[2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2014]] <br /> [[2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2019]]
|[[2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|-
![[Elections in Arunachal Pradesh|AR]]
| colspan="2" |{{dash}}
| [[1978 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1978]]
| [[1980 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1984 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1984]]
| [[1990 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1995 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1995]] <br /> [[1999 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1999]]
| [[2004 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2004]] <br /> [[2009 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2009]]
| [[2014 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2014]] <br /> [[2019 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2019]]
|[[2024 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|-
![[Elections in Assam|AS]]
| [[1952 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1952]] <br /> [[1957 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1962 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1978 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1978]]
| [[1983 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1983]] <br /> [[1985 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
| [[1991 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1991]] <br /> [[1996 Assam Legislative Assembly election|1996]]
| [[2001 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2001]] <br /> [[2006 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2006]]
| [[2011 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2011]] <br /> [[2016 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
| [[2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
[[2026 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2026]]
|-
![[Elections in Bihar|BR]]
| [[1952 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1952]] <br /> [[1957 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1962 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1967]] <br /> [[1969 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1969]] 
| [[1972 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1977]] 
| [[1980 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1985 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
| [[1990 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1995 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1995]]
| [[2000 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2000]] <br /> [[February 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2005 (Feb)]] <br /> [[October 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2005 (Oct)]]
| [[2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2010]] <br /> [[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2015]]
|[[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2020]] <br /> [[2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2025]]
|-
![[Elections in Chhattisgarh|CG]]
| colspan="5" | State didn't exist. Was part of MP. (Established in 2000)
|[[2003 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2003]]<br/>[[2008 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
|[[2013 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2013]]<br/>[[2018 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|[[2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Delhi|DL]]
| [[1952 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|1952]]
| {{dash}}
| {{dash}}
| {{dash}}
| [[1993 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1998 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
| [[2003 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2003]] <br /> [[2008 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2013]] <br /> [[2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2015]]
| [[2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2020]] <br /> [[2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2025]]
|-
![[Elections in Goa|GA]]
| {{dash}}
| [[1963 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election|1963]] <br /> [[1967 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1980 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1984 Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly election|1984]] <br /> [[1989 Goa Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
| [[1994 Goa Legislative Assembly election|1994]] <br /> [[1999 Goa Legislative Assembly election|1999]]
| [[2002 Goa Legislative Assembly election|2002]] <br /> [[2007 Goa Legislative Assembly election|2007]]
| [[2012 Goa Legislative Assembly election|2012]] <br /> [[2017 Goa Legislative Assembly election|2017]]
| [[2022 Goa Legislative Assembly election|2022]]
|-
![[Elections in Gujarat|GJ]]
| {{dash}}
| [[1962 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1975 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1975]]
| [[1980 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1985 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
| [[1990 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1995 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1995]] <br /> [[1998 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
| [[2002 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2002]] <br /> [[2007 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2007]]
| [[2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2012]] <br /> [[2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2017]]
| [[2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election|2022]]
|-
![[Elections in Haryana|HR]]
| {{dash}}
| [[1967 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|1967]] <br /> [[1968 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|1968]]
| [[1972 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1982 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|1982]] <br /> [[1987 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|1987]]
| [[1991 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|1991]] <br /> [[1996 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|1996]]
| [[2000 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|2000]] <br /> [[2005 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|2005]] <br /> [[2009 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|2009]]
| [[2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|2014]] <br /> [[2019 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|2019]]
|[[2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|-
![[Elections in Himachal Pradesh|HP]]
| [[1952 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1952]] <br /> 
| [[1967 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1985 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1985]] <br /> 
| [[1990 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1993 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1998 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
| [[2003 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2003]] <br /> [[2007 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2007]]
| [[2012 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2012]] <br /> [[2017 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2017]]
| [[2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2022]]
|-
![[Elections in Jammu and Kashmir|JK]]
| [[1951 Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly election|1951]] <br /> [[1957 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1962 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1967]] 
| [[1972 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1977]] 
| [[1983 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1983]] <br /> [[1987 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1987]] 
| [[1996 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1996]] 
| [[2002 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2002]] <br /> [[2008 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2014]]
| [[2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|-
![[Elections in Jharkhand|JH]]
| colspan="5" | State didn't exist. Was part of Bihar. (Established in 2000)
| [[2005 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election|2005]] <br /> [[2009 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election|2009]]
| [[2014 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election|2014]] <br /> [[2019 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election|2019]]
|[[2024 Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|-
![[Elections in Karnataka|KA]]
| [[1952 Mysore Legislative Assembly election|Mysore 1952]] <br /> [[1957 Mysore Legislative Assembly election|Mysore 1957]]
| [[1962 Mysore Legislative Assembly election|Mysore 1962]] <br /> [[1967 Mysore Legislative Assembly election|Mysore 1967]]
| [[1972 Mysore Legislative Assembly election|Mysore 1972]] <br /> [[1978 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1978]]
| [[1983 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1983]] <br /> [[1985 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1985]] <br /> [[1989 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
| [[1994 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1994]] <br /> [[1999 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1999]]
| [[2004 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|2004]] <br /> [[2008 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2013 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|2013]] <br /> [[2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|[[2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Kerala|KL]]
| [[1952 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election|1952 Thiru-Kochi]] <br /> [[1954 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election|1954 Thiru-Kochi]] <br />[[1957 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1960]] <br /> [[1965 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1965]] <br /> [[1967 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1970 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1970]] <br /> [[1977 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1980 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1982 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1982]] <br /> [[1987 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1987]]
| [[1991 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1991]] <br /> [[1996 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1996]]
| [[2001 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2001]] <br /> [[2006 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2006]]
| [[2011 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2011]] <br /> [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
| [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
[[2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2026]]
|-
![[Elections in Madhya Pradesh|MP]]
| [[1952 Bhopal Legislative Assembly election|Bhopal 1952]] <br /> [[1952 Madhya Bharat Legislative Assembly election|MB 1952]] <br /> [[1952 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|MP 1952]] <br /> [[1952 Vindhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|VP 1952]] <br /> [[1957 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1967 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1980 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1985 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
| [[1990 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1993 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1998 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
| [[2003 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2003]] <br /> [[2008 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2013 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2013]] <br /> [[2018 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|[[2023 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Maharashtra|MH]]
| {{dash}}
| [[1962 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1978 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1978]]
| [[1980 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1985 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
| [[1990 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1995 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1995]] <br /> [[1999 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1999]]
| [[2004 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2004]] <br /> [[2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2009]]
| [[2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2014]] <br /> [[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2019]] 
| [[2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|-
![[Elections in Manipur|MN]]
| {{dash}}
| [[1967 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1974 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|1974]]
| [[1980 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1984 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|1984]]
| [[1990 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1995 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|1995]]
| [[2000 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|2000]] <br /> [[2002 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|2002]] <br /> [[2007 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|2007]]
| [[2012 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|2012]] <br /> [[2017 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|2017]]
| [[2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election|2022]]
|-
![[Elections in Meghalaya|ML]]
| {{dash}}
| {{dash}}
| [[1972 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1978 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|1978]]
| [[1983 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|1983]] <br /> [[1988 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|1988]]
| [[1993 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1998 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
| [[2003 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|2003]] <br /> [[2008 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2013 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|2013]] <br /> [[2018 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
| [[2023 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Mizoram|MZ]]
| {{dash}}
| {{dash}}
| [[1972 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1978 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1978]] <br /> [[1979 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1979]]
| [[1984 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1984]] <br /> [[1987 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1987]] <br /> [[1989 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
| [[1993 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1998 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
| [[2003 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2003]] <br /> [[2008 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2013 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2013]] <br /> [[2018 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|[[2023 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Nagaland|NL]]
| {{dash}}
| [[1964 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1964]] <br /> [[1969 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1969]]
| [[1974 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1974]] <br /> [[1977 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1982 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1982]] <br /> [[1987 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1987]] <br /> [[1989 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
| [[1993 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1998 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
| [[2003 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|2003]] <br /> [[2008 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2013 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|2013]] <br /> [[2018 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|[[2023 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Odisha|OD]]
| [[1952 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1952]] <br /> [[1957 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1961 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1961]] <br /> [[1967 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1971 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1971]] <br /> [[1974 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1974]] <br /> [[1977 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1980 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1985 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
| [[1990 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1995 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|1995]]
| [[2000 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2000]] <br /> [[2004 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2004]] <br /> [[2009 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2009]]
| [[2014 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2014]] <br /> [[2019 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2019]]
|[[2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|-
![[Elections in Punjab, India|PB]]
| [[1952 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1952]] <br /> [[1957 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1962 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1967]] <br /> [[1969 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1969]]
| [[1972 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1980 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1985 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
| [[1992 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1992]] <br /> [[1997 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|1997]]
| [[2002 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|2002]] <br /> [[2007 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|2007]]
| [[2012 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|2012]] <br /> [[2017 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|2017]]
| [[2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|2022]]
|-
![[Elections in Puducherry|PY]]
|{{dash}}
|[[1964 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1964]]<br/>[[1969 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1969]] 
|[[1974 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1974]]<br/>[[1977 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1977]] 
|[[1980 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1980]]<br/>[[1985 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
|[[1990 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1990]]<br/>[[1991 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1991]]<br/>[[1996 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1996]] 
|[[2001 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|2001]]<br/>[[2006 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|2006]] 
|[[2011 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2011]]<br/>[[2016 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
|[[2021 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2021]]<br/>[[2026 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2026]]
|-
![[Elections in Rajasthan|RJ]]
| [[1952 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1952]] <br /> [[1957 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1962 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1980 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1985 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1985]]
| [[1990 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1990]] <br /> [[1993 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1998 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|1998]] 
| [[2003 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2003]] <br /> [[2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2013 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2013]] <br /> [[2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|[[2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Sikkim|SK]]
| {{dash}}
| {{dash}}
| [[1979 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|1979]]
| [[1985 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|1985]] <br /> [[1989 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
| [[1994 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|1994]] <br /> [[1999 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|1999]]
| [[2004 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2004]] <br /> [[2009 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2009]]
| [[2014 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2014]] <br /> [[2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2019]]
|[[2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election|2024]]
|-
![[Elections in Tamil Nadu|TN]]
|[[1952 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|Madras 1952]]<br/>[[1957 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|Madras 1957]]
|[[1962 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|Madras 1962]]<br/>[[1967 Madras State Legislative Assembly election|Madras 1967]]
|[[1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1971]]<br/>[[1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
|[[1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1980]]<br/>[[1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1984]]<br/>[[1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
|[[1991 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1991]]<br/>[[1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1996]]
|[[2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2001]]<br/>[[2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2006]]
|[[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011]]<br/>[[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
|[[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021]]<br/>[[2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2026]]
|-
![[Elections in Telangana|TS]]
|[[1952 Hyderabad Legislative Assembly election|Hyderabad 1952]]
|colspan=5|State didn't exist. Was part of Andhra Pradesh. (Established in 2014) 
|[[2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2014]]<br/>[[2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|[[2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Tripura|TR]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/asiapacific-region/indiatripura-1949-present/ |title=43. India/Tripura (1949-present) |publisher=University of Central Arkansas |date= |accessdate=28 February 2022}}</ref>
| {{dash}}
| [[1967 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1967]]
| [[1972 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1983 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1983]] <br /> [[1988 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1988]]
| [[1993 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1998 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
| [[2003 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2003]] <br /> [[2008 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
| [[2013 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2013]] <br /> [[2018 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|[[2023 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|-
![[Elections in Uttar Pradesh|UP]]
| [[1951 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1951]] <br /> [[1952 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1952]] <br /> [[1957 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1962 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1967]] <br /> [[1969 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1969]]
| [[1974 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1974]] <br /> [[1977 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1980 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1980]] <br /> [[1985 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1985]] <br /> [[1989 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
| [[1991 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1991]] <br /> [[1993 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1993]] <br /> [[1996 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1996]]
| [[2002 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2002]] <br /> [[2007 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2007]]
| [[2012 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2012]] <br /> [[2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2017]]
| [[2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2022]]
|-
![[Elections in Uttarakhand|UT]]
| colspan="5" | State didn't exist. Was part of UP. (Established in 2000)
| [[2002 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election|2002]] <br /> [[2007 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election|2007]]
| [[2012 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election|2012]] <br /> [[2017 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election|2017]]
| [[2022 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election|2022]]
|-
![[Elections in West Bengal|WB]]
| [[1952 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1952]] <br /> [[1957 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1957]]
| [[1962 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1962]] <br /> [[1967 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1967]] <br /> [[1969 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1969]]
| [[1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1971]] <br /> [[1972 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1972]] <br /> [[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1977]]
| [[1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1982]] <br /> [[1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1987]]
| [[1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1991]] <br /> [[1996 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|1996]]
| [[2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2001]] <br /> [[2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2006]]
| [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011]] <br /> [[2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
| [[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2021]] <br /> [[2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2026]]
|}

=== By-election ===
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).

=== Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Elections ===
{{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 [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 bill|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.

==Election procedure in India==
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 [[District magistrate|Collector]] of each district is in charge of polling. Government employees are employed as poll officers at the polling stations. [[Electronic voting in India|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|thumb|Privacy Shields for Voting Booth used in India]]

=== Election machinery ===
The [[Chief Electoral Officer (India)|Chief Electoral Officer]] (CEO) is the state-level authority appointed to oversee the conduct of elections under the supervision of the [[Election Commission of India]]. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) supervise the election work related to State Assembly and Parliament elections. The Chief Electoral Officer<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-07 |title=Rathan Kelkar is new chief electoral officer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/rathan-kelkar-appointed-as-keralas-new-chief-electoral-officer-amidst-election-preparations/articleshow/116055338.cms |access-date=2025-11-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> is a senior [[Indian Administrative Service]] officer of the State or Union Territory government, nominated by the Election Commission of India. The CEO oversees voter registration, prepares the electoral rolls, ensures compliance with election laws and the Model Code of Conduct, and ensures the smooth conduct of elections to the [[Parliament of India]] as well as the [[State legislatures of India|State Legislature]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Officer |first=Chief Electoral |title=Responsibilities and Functions |url=https://ceouttarpradesh.nic.in/_ResponsibilitiesandFunctions_eng.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250719171809/https://ceouttarpradesh.nic.in/_ResponsibilitiesandFunctions_eng.aspx |archive-date=2025-07-19 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=ceouttarpradesh.nic.in}}</ref>

At the [[List of districts in India|district]] level, [[District Collector|District Collectors]] are designated as District Election Officers (DEOs) by both the [[Election Commission of India]] (ECI) and [[State election commission (India)|State Election Commissions]] (SECs). The District Election Officers (DEOs) supervise various elections in the district. The District Collector functions as the Returning Officer (RO) for the [[List of constituencies of the Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha Constituency]] as well. Each Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly constituency is assigned a [[Returning officer#India|Returning Officer]] (RO) responsible for conducting the election, assisted by Assistant Returning Oficers (AROs). For voter list management and related duties there are Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers for each legislative constituency, and at the field level there are Booth Level Officers (BLOs). At the polling-booth level, the election is conducted by a Presiding Officer and a team of Polling Officers. The ECI and SECs designate various state government officials to the said roles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tamil Nadu State Election Commission |url=https://tnsec.tn.gov.in/tnsec_static/elections/ele_election_machinery_e.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216155427/https://tnsec.tn.gov.in/tnsec_static/elections/ele_election_machinery_e.php |archive-date=2025-02-16 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=tnsec.tn.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>

District Election Officers oversee electoral roll preparation and conduct [[Local government in India|local government]] elections in their districts under the direction of the [[State election commission (India)|State Election Commission]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sec.kerala.gov.in/portal/kc/election-officials |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=sec.kerala.gov.in}}</ref>

=== Vote from home===
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.<ref name="News On AIR - News Services Division 2023 g445">{{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}}</ref> 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 election]]s.<ref name="Ayub 2023 d863">{{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}}</ref>

In the [[2024 Indian general election|2024 lok sabha elections]], [[Election Commission of India|ECI]] extended the "vote-from-home" option to people aged 85 years and above and to [[Disability in India|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.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kalia |first1=Saumya |date=23 March 2024 |title=All about the vote-from-home facility in the Lok Sabha elections &#124; 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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
[[File:Vote From Home Option For People Above 80 Or With Disabilities in India.jpg|thumb|A senior citizen (above 80) is casting her vote from home in [[Bhopal]]]]

===Indelible ink===
[[File:Ink used in India Elections.jpg|thumb|right|Ink used in Indian elections]]
[[File:Ink Bottle used in Indian Elections.jpg|thumb|right|Ink bottle pledge]]

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.

===Electronic voting===
{{main|Electronic voting in India}}

[[File:Voting machine in India.jpg|thumb|right|Voting machine]]
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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> In the 2014 general election, VVPAT was operational in 8 constituencies ([[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)|Lucknow]], [[Gandhinagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gandhinagar]], [[Bangalore South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bangalore South]], [[Chennai Central (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai Central]], [[Jadavpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]], [[Raipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Raipur]], [[Patna Sahib (Lok Sabha constituency)|Patna Sahib]] and [[Mizoram (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mizoram]]) as a pilot project.<ref>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=https://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}}
*[https://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=https://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}}
*[https://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=https://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}}</ref><ref name="VVPATIndiaElections2014">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 trail]]s (VVPATs) and EVMs were used in every assembly and the general election in India since 2019.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 &#124; India News |website=The Times of India|date=9 April 2019 |access-date=13 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 Indian general elections|2019 general election]], ECI declared that there were no mismatches between EVM and VVPAT.<ref>{{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}}</ref> During elections in 2025, [[Rahul Gandhi]] made remarks about [[electoral fraud]] and labelled his findings "[[vote chor]]," accusing the election commission and [[BJP]] of stealing votes in national and state elections through the work of EVMs. This vote chor movement is still ongoing as of 2026.

===NOTA===
{{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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Absentee voting===
India does not provide general [[absentee ballot|absentee voting]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===''Postal voting''===
[[Postal code|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 in India|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.<ref name=IndiaPostVote1>[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.</ref><ref name=IndiaPostVote2>[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.</ref><ref name=IndiaPostVote3>{{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}}</ref>

== Elections by statewise ==    
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
#[[Elections in Andhra Pradesh]]
#[[Elections in Arunachal Pradesh]]
#[[Elections in Assam]]
#[[Elections in Bihar]]
#[[Elections in Chhattisgarh]]
#[[Elections in Delhi]]
#[[Elections in Goa]]
#[[Elections in Gujarat]]
#[[Elections in Haryana]]
#[[Elections in Himachal Pradesh]]
#[[Elections in Jammu and Kashmir]]
#[[Elections in Jharkhand]]
#[[Elections in Karnataka]]
#[[Elections in Kerala]]
#[[Elections in Madhya Pradesh]]
#[[Elections in Maharashtra]]
#[[Elections in Manipur]]
#[[Elections in Meghalaya]]
#[[Elections in Mizoram]]
#[[Elections in Nagaland]]
#[[Elections in Odisha]]
#[[Elections in Puducherry]]
#[[Elections in Punjab (India)|Elections in Punjab]]
#[[Elections in Rajasthan]]
#[[Elections in Sikkim]]
#[[Elections in Tamil Nadu]]
#[[Elections in Telangana]]
#[[Elections in Tripura]]
#[[Elections in Uttar Pradesh]]
#[[Elections in Uttarakhand]]
#[[Elections in West Bengal]]
{{div col end|3}}              
==See also==
{{Portal|India|Politics}}
* [[49-O]]  Now replaced with 'NOTA (None of The Above)'
* [[Booth capturing]]
* [[Democracy in India]]
* [[History of democracy#Indian subcontinent|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]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
<!--Please do not add personal or other unofficial websites-->
* Jensenius, Francesca R.; Chhibber, Pradeep; Alam, Sanjeer; Gupta, Pranav; Somanathan, Madhavan (2025-07-01). "[https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05418-6 Indian election data for polling stations and villages: National elections 2009–2019]". ''Scientific Data''. '''12''' (1).
* {{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}}

[[Category:Elections in India| ]]