Constitution of India · Section Article 326
Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage
Article 326 — Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage
- Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage.—The elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage; that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than eighteen years of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature and is not otherwise disqualified under this Constitution or any law made by the appropriate Legislature on the ground of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such election.
Plain English Summary
This article states that elections for the Parliament (House of the People) and State Legislative Assemblies must be based on adult suffrage. This means that every citizen of India who is 18 years or older has the right to vote, provided they meet certain basic eligibility criteria.
Key Points
- Elections must be based on adult suffrage, meaning only adults can vote.
- A person must be a citizen of India.
- The voter must be not less than eighteen years of age on the election date.
- Voters cannot be disqualified based on things like non-residence, unsoundness of mind, or criminal activity.
Why It Matters
This article ensures that the democratic process is inclusive, guaranteeing that all adult citizens have an equal opportunity to choose their representatives in both the national and state governments.
Landmark Judgements
No major landmark judgements.