State Election Commission (SEC)

Definition

The constitutional body in each State that superintends, directs and controls elections to Panchayats and Municipalities (the local bodies).

Key points

• Created by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts, 1992, under Articles 243K (Panchayats) and 243ZA (Municipalities).
• Consists of a State Election Commissioner appointed by the Governor.
• The State Election Commissioner can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a High Court judge, ensuring independence.
• It is wholly distinct from the Election Commission of India (Article 324), which handles Parliament, State legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President.
• Prepares electoral rolls and conducts the periodic elections to the third tier of government.

Why it matters for CAPF

Articles 243K and 243ZA, the 73rd and 74th amendments and the contrast with the Election Commission of India are standard local-government and constitutional-bodies facts.

Common confusion

The State Election Commission is a separate constitutional body for local-body polls, not a regional branch of the Election Commission of India; the SEC handles Panchayats and Municipalities only.

Parent note

local government