Who nominates or designates an Officer of the State Government as the District Election Officer in consultation with the State Government?

The correct answer is Election Commission of India.

Key Points

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is responsible for nominating or designating an officer of the State Government as the District Election Officer (DEO).
• This is done in consultation with the State Government, as per Section 13AA of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
• The DEO plays a crucial role in supervising election-related activities in their respective districts under the guidance of the Election Commission.
• The ECI ensures the independence and impartiality of the election process by overseeing the appointment of key officials like the DEO.
• The DEO’s responsibilities include coordinating election logistics, maintaining the integrity of the electoral roll, and ensuring compliance with the Model Code of Conduct.

Additional Information

• Election Commission of India (ECI):
  • The ECI is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering elections in India at the national, state, and local levels.
  • It was established on January 25, 1950, under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
  • The ECI ensures free, fair, and transparent elections through various mechanisms and guidelines.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950:
  • It provides the framework for the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Parliament and State Legislatures.
  • Section 13AA of this Act empowers the Election Commission to designate officers, such as the DEO, for election-related duties.
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC):
  • The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the ECI for political parties and candidates to ensure free and fair elections.
  • It becomes effective from the date of announcement of the election schedule and remains in force until the completion of the election process.
• District Election Officer (DEO):
  • The DEO is responsible for the smooth conduct of elections in their district, under the supervision of the ECI.
  • Key responsibilities include managing polling stations, training election staff, and ensuring voter education.
• State Election Commission:
  • While the ECI handles national and state-level elections, the State Election Commissions are responsible for conducting elections to local bodies like Panchayats and Municipalities.