NoellaXgt402 at 06:39, 9 December 2025

2025-12-09T06:39:34Z

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{{Short description|Body charged with assuring fair elections in Kerala}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Kerala State Election Commission
| nativename =
| nativename_a = <Small>'''സംസ്ഥാന തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് കമ്മീഷൻ, കേരളം'''</small>
| nativename_r =
| logo = Kerala State Election Commission Logo.png
| logo_width = 140
| logo_caption =
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| formed = 3 December 1993<ref name="ksc ref1">{{cite news |title=Kerala State Election Commission |url=https://www.sec.kerala.gov.in/public/know_more |access-date=15 December 2021 |publisher=www.sec.kerala.gov.in}}</ref>
| preceding1 =
| preceding2 =
| dissolved =
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| jurisdiction = [[Kerala]]
| headquarters = Vikas Bhavan P.O, [[Thiruvananthapuram]] - 695 033
| employees =
| budget =
| minister1_name =
| minister1_pfo =
| minister2_name =
| minister2_pfo =
| chief1_name = A.Shajahan IAS (Rtd)
| chief1_position = State Election Commissioner.
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| website = {{URL|https://www.sec.kerala.gov.in/}}
| footnotes =
}}

The '''Kerala State Election Commission''' is an [[Autonomy|autonomous]] [[Constitutional institution|constitutional body]] constituted in the Indian state of [[Kerala]] for supervising and conducting [[Elections in Kerala|elections]] to the [[Local government in Kerala|local self-government institutions]], ensuring that the electoral process is free, fair, and unbiased.<ref name="sec ref3" /> [[Constitution of India]] with provisions as per Article 243K and 243 ZA and Article 324 ensures creation and safeguarding of the powers of [[States Election Commission (India)|State Election Commissions]]. The Kerala State Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections for Urban Local Bodies like [[Municipalities of Kerala|Municipalities]] and [[List of municipal corporations in Kerala|Municipal Corporations]], as well as Rural Local Bodies like [[Panchayati raj in India|Panchayats]] (which include ''Gram Panchayats'', ''Block Panchayats'', and ''District Panchayats''), and any others specified by the [[Election Commission of India]]. Kerala State Election Commissioner is appointed by the [[Governor (India)|Governor]] of Kerala.

== History and Administration ==

Kerala State Election Commission was formed in accordance with powers of Election Commission of India, which was constituted in year 1950<ref name="sec ref1">{{cite news |title=WHAT IS ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ECI)? |url=https://www.business-standard.com/about/what-is-election-commission-of-india#collapse |access-date=6 December 2021 |publisher=Business Standard India}}</ref> to supervise state level elections.<ref name="sec ref3">{{cite news |title=State election panels: Independent of central EC, with similar powers |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/state-election-panels-independent-of-central-ec-with-similar-powers-5132220/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=12 April 2018 |language=en}}</ref> State election commissioner is appointed by Governor.<ref name="sec ref2">{{cite news |title=India Code: Section Details |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_18_21_00005_199426_1517807320414&sectionId=42788&sectionno=98&orderno=98 |access-date=6 December 2021 |publisher=www.indiacode.nic.in}}</ref><ref name="sec ref6">{{cite news |title=State Election Commissioner Conditions of Service Rules, 1994 |url=http://www.bareactslive.com/HRY/HL534.HTM |access-date=6 December 2021 |publisher=www.bareactslive.com |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206113835/http://www.bareactslive.com/HRY/HL534.HTM |url-status=dead }}</ref> To ensure the autonomy of the position, the Kerala state election commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the grounds and manner specified for [[judge]] of [[High courts of India|High Court]].

Kerala State Election Commission operates from Vikas Bhavan premises, located near Kerala State Assembly premises.<ref name="kse ref 6">{{cite news |title=CM inaugurates new HQ of State Election Commission |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2020/may/29/cm-inaugurates-new-hq-of-state-election-commission-2149313.html |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=29 May 2021}}</ref>

== Powers and Responsibilities ==

Kerala States Election Commissioner is responsible for the following:<ref name="sec ref1" /><ref name="sec ref7">{{cite news |title=Election Commission directs all state electoral officers to immediately redress all pending voter applications |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/election-commission-directs-state-electoral-officers-immediately-redress-pending-voter-applications-1503026387.html |access-date=6 December 2021 |publisher=The Statesman |date=23 November 2021}}</ref>

* Releasing election schedule.
* Issue notification containing guidelines for conducting elections for Municipal Corporations in State.
* Conducting elections for Municipal Corporations in State.
* Issue notification containing guidelines for conducting elections for conducting elections for Municipalities in State.
* Conducting elections for Municipalities in State.<ref name="kse ref5">{{cite news |title=Local Body Election Dates To Be Announced Soon; Polls Likely Before 10 Dec |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/english/news/kerala/kerala-local-body-elections-2020/3025 |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=Deshabhimani |date=1 November 2020 |language=en |archive-date=16 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216114001/https://www.deshabhimani.com/english/news/kerala/kerala-local-body-elections-2020/3025 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="kse ref7">{{cite news |title=Kerala: State Election Commission issues official notification for local body election today |url=https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Kerala%3A-State-Election-Commission-issues-official-notification-for-local-body-election-today&id=404132 |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=newsonair.gov.in |date=12 November 2020}}</ref>
* Laying guidelines for persons eligible to contest in elections for Municipal Corporations in State.
* Conducting elections for Municipalities in State.<ref name="kse ref 8">{{cite news |last1=Unnithan |first1=P. S. Gopikrishnan |title=Kerala: Local body elections to be held in 3 phases, counting of votes on December 16 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kerala-local-body-elections-to-be-held-in-3-phases-counting-of-votes-on-december-16-1738660-2020-11-06 |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=India Today |date=6 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* Model code of conduct are following in elections for local bodies.<ref name="kse ref3">{{cite news |title=State Election Commission Seeks Explanation from Kerala CM on Free Covid-19 Vaccine Announcement |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/state-election-commission-seeks-explanation-from-kerala-cm-on-free-covid-19-vaccine-announcement-3177938.html |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=News18 |date=14 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* Updating Electoral rolls with new additions.
* Updating Electoral rolls with removals, if any.
* Declaration of results of elections held for Municipal Corporations in State.
* Declaration of results of elections held for Municipalities in State.
* Ordering repoll if needed.
* Making arrangements for Statewide polls.
* Monitoring poll expenditure for Panchayat and Municipalities polls.
* Laying guidelines for issue of opinion polls.
* Decision on conducting elections.
* Declaring results of local body polls.
* Municipal and Panchayat constituencies delimitation exercise.
* Countermanding elections in case of malpractices.

== Composition ==

Kerala State Election Commission is headed by the State Election Commissioner and as many members as specified in State Act.<ref name="kse ref4">{{cite news |title=Kerala gets new chief electoral officer |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kerala-gets-new-chief-electoral-officer-1.5811178 |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=Mathrubhumi |date=7 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> State Election Commissioners are independent persons not holding position or office in any Central or State Government organisations<ref name="sec ref5">{{cite news |title=State election commissioners should be independent, says SC |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/state-election-commissioners-should-be-independent-says-sc/cid/1809411 |publisher=www.telegraphindia.com |date=13 March 2021}}</ref> The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the [[List of governors of Kerala|Governor of Kerala]]. The Secretary is the chief administrative officer of the State Election Commission. The Secretary heads the Commission’s secretariat and is responsible for implementing the directions of the State Election Commissioner.

Sri A.Shajahan IAS, is the Chief Election Commissioner of Kerala State Election Commission.<ref name="ksec ref2">{{cite news |title=Shajahan is new SEC |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/shajahan-is-new-sec/article34207678.ece |access-date=15 December 2021 |publisher=The Hindu |date=31 March 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref> His period of service will be 5 years or attaining an age of 65 years whichever is earlier.
==Election machinery==
At the district level, the [[District Collector]] is designated as the District Election Officer (DEO) for conducting elections to local self-government institutions (LSGIs). The Deputy Collector (Election) functions as the Assistant District Election Officer (ADEO), assisting the DEO in all election-related responsibilities.
The District Collector also acts as the Returning Officer for District Panchayat elections.<ref name="sec ref3" />

Officers from the [[Department of Revenue and Land Survey|Revenue Department]], [[Local Self Government Department (Kerala)|Local Self Government Department]] and other officials from various [[List of departments and agencies of the Government of Kerala|government departments]] will assist the State Election Commission for the conduction of the Election. The commission authorize such officers to various duties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=https://sec.kerala.gov.in/public/know_more_new |url=https://www.sec.kerala.gov.in/public/know_more_new |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250803191231/https://www.sec.kerala.gov.in/public/know_more_new |archive-date=2025-08-03 |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=sec.kerala.gov.in |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Constitutional Requirements ==

Kerala State Election Commission was formed after amendment of Constitution with 73rd and 74th declaration.<ref name="sec ref4">{{cite news |title=India State Election - Find information of all State elections in India |url=https://www.elections.in/state-elections.html |access-date=6 December 2021 |publisher=www.elections.in}}</ref> State Election Commissions were formed as per Article 243K of the Constitution, similar to setting up of Election commission of India as per Article 324.<ref name="sec ref3" />

== See also ==

* [[Election Commission of India]].

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.sec.kerala.gov.in/ Official Website]
* [http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/home.html Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223002912/http://ceo.kerala.gov.in/home.html |date=2017-02-23 }}

{{State agencies of Kerala}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:State election commissioners of India]]
[[Category:Local elections in Kerala]]

Kerala State Election Commission - Revision history

NoellaXgt402 at 06:39, 9 December 2025