Why was there a need for an election symbol and how important is it? Know how it started
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The biggest identity of parties and candidates in elections is their logo. The election symbol has always been popular since the beginning of elections. Most parties are identified by their logos. So the information about how this sign started and who gave its idea and why is interesting.
India’s low literacy rate responsible
After the country became independent, preparations for the first Lok Sabha elections began in 1951-52. The biggest challenge before the Election Commission then was India’s low literacy rate. At that time only less than 16 percent of the people in India were educated. In such a situation, consideration was being given to how the uneducated people would choose the candidate of their choice. After much deliberation, the Election Commission came up with the ballot paper system.
origin of ballot
A separate ballot box was made for each candidate, which was also of different colour. Also, election symbols were decided for the selection of candidates, most of the election symbols were related to daily life. So it can be easily identified. Ballot boxes were made for the candidates and the prescribed election symbol was marked on it. So that voters can easily identify and vote for the candidate of their choice.
Origin of election symbol
The ballot papers were printed at the India Security Press in Nashik. Where Indian currency was also printed. The idea of an election symbol came up for different parties to vote through ballot papers in different colored ballot boxes. MS Sethi had earlier contributed to the origin and design of these symbols for the Lok Sabha elections. Who joined the Election Commission in 1950 as a draftsman. His job was to make signs for elections.
selection of icons
MS Sethi and Election Commission officials kept meeting for hours regarding the selection of election symbol. Later he decided to use everyday objects that people could easily recognize as election symbols. In which election symbols like broom, elephant, bicycle, kite, glass were fixed for the candidates of different parties. Whose sketch Sethi used to make.
Sethi retired in September 1992, following which the Election Commission imposed a complete ban on the appointment of the icon maker.
How does the party decide the marks?
After about 2002 the Commission released a list of several election symbols created by Sethi, known as free symbols, which were not accepted by any party. New parties and others got symbols from this list.
