10 Facts You Would Have Not Known About the Indian General Elections

Did you know that the ongoing elections to the Lok Sabha are the biggest election on the entire globe? With more than 900 million eligible voters, these elections are indeed a celebration of the biggest democracy in the world. The Election Commission of India (ECI) fights all the odds and has been successfully conducting elections for the past many years.

ECI officials go through a lot of struggle to ensure that these elections are executed properly. Fighting all the weather obstacles and demographic conditions, voting in-charges travel miles on foot and even cross rivers and mountains sometimes to ensure that every single voter cast the vote.

Since the first general elections in 1952, our democracy has witnessed a lot of things which have left their impression forever. The dedication of these government officials, the armed forces and the citizens has been commendable and will continue to be so. So, at a time when the entire country is witnessing the grandeur of elections, we bring to you some of the most interesting info about them.

1. World’s largest elections

Indian General elections are the largest election in the world. More than 90 crore people are expected to vote this time. That’s approximately the population of entire Europe and Brazil together.

2. Road, Boat, Helicopter, and Elephant

Election officials make sure that everyone casts vote. At times they are deployed in so vulnerable areas that they have to travel by road, boat, helicopters, jeeps, elephants and in special trains.

3. An entire voting team for just 1 man

Every election, an entire election team assisted by the cops travel to the Banej village in Gir, Gujarat to get the vote of just 1 person. Mahant Bharatdas Darshandas is the lone voter in the last habitat of Asiatic Lion.

4. Highest polling station in the world

Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh is the highest polling station in the entire world at a height of 15,256 ft.

5. Hiking the entire day for a single voter

For the first time, an election team will hike to a village in Arunachal Pradesh for just 1 man.

6. The first voter of independent India

Shyam Saran Negi, a retired school teacher, is the first voter of independent India. The 1952 general elections were conducted early in 1951 in Himachal Pradesh owing to the weather conditions and Shyam Saran Negi was the first person to vote. Though 101 years old, his health is good and he has been actively participating in every election.

7. Transgenders will be recognized for the first time

The Indian government passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill in 2018. As a result of this, transgenders can get themselves recognized as the ‘third gender’ or as ‘other sex’ in this election.

8. Walking for more than 40 km

In the Dibang valley in the Arunachal East constituency, booth officers will be traveling 10-46 km this year to get each and every single vote.

9. Picture of candidates on the EVM

For the first time in a general election, ECI will be attaching a picture of candidates in front of their respective buttons on the EVM machines this year.

10. EVM Facts

According to the rules of the ECI, a single EVM can record a maximum of 2,000 votes only. Furthermore, polling booths should be organized in such a way that no voter has to walk for more than 2 km. Also, a maximum of 1,500 voters only can be listed at one polling booth.

This biggest celebration of democracy will end on 19 May with the counting of votes on 23rd May. Whether the incumbent party wins or the GOP makes a comeback, we shouldn’t forget the courage of such brave people who make the elections happen.