Section 25: Provision of Polling Stations for Constituencies
Section 25 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 assigns responsibility for providing and publishing polling stations to the District Election Officer, subject to the previous approval of the Election Commission of India.
Text of Section 25
The district election officer shall, with the previous approval of the Election Commission, provide a sufficient number of polling stations for every constituency the whole or greater part of which lies within his jurisdiction, and shall publish, in such manner as the Election Commission may direct, a list showing the polling stations so provided and the polling areas or groups of voters for which they have respectively been provided.
Meaning and legal requirements
1. Responsibility of the District Election Officer
The District Election Officer (DEO) is responsible for arranging a sufficient number of polling stations for each constituency wholly or predominantly within the DEO's jurisdiction. Section 20A of the 1951 Act separately sets out the DEO's general election-coordination and supervisory duties.
2. Previous approval of the Election Commission
Section 25 expressly requires the previous approval of the Election Commission. The DEO does not exercise an unrestricted independent power to determine polling-station arrangements.
3. Sufficient polling stations
The statutory standard is a sufficient number of polling stations. The detailed criteria for their location, voter allocation, accessibility, facilities and rationalisation are addressed through applicable election rules and Election Commission instructions, which should be checked for the relevant election.
4. Publication of the polling-station list
The DEO must publish a list identifying the polling stations and the polling areas or groups of voters assigned to each. The manner of publication is governed by the Election Commission's directions. Publication enables voters and other stakeholders to identify the assigned polling locations.
How polling stations are provided
In practical administration, the DEO examines constituency coverage and voter distribution, prepares polling-station proposals, obtains the required Election Commission approval and publishes the approved list as directed. Any subsequent revision must comply with the applicable official directions and approval requirements.
Related legal provisions
Section 20A: General duties of the District Election Officer. Section 21: Appointment of Returning Officers. Section 24: General duty of Returning Officers. Section 26: Appointment of Presiding Officers for polling stations. Article 324 of the Constitution: Election Commission's superintendence, direction and control of elections.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides polling stations under Section 25?
The District Election Officer provides polling stations for constituencies wholly or mostly within the DEO's jurisdiction, with the Election Commission's previous approval.
Is Election Commission approval mandatory?
Yes. The statute specifically requires previous approval.
Must the list of polling stations be published?
Yes. The list must show polling stations and their corresponding polling areas or groups of voters and must be published as the Election Commission directs.
Official legal and election resources
Consult India Code for the consolidated statutory text, the Election Commission of India for current polling-station instructions, and the Legislative Department for Article 324 of the Constitution.