Article 325 and General Electoral Rolls

Article 325 requires a common electoral roll for every territorial constituency. It establishes the principle of a general electoral roll, under which voters cannot be excluded from the common roll, or demand a separate roll, solely because of religion, race, caste or sex.

Constitutional prescription

The Article applies to territorial constituencies for elections to Parliament and State Legislatures. Its two connected commands ensure a common electoral process.

• There must be one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency, rather than separate rolls for different communities.
• No person may be made ineligible for inclusion solely on the grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.
• No person may claim inclusion in a special electoral roll solely on any of these prohibited grounds.

Meaning and significance

Article 325 rejects identity-based separate electorates while ensuring equal access to the common roll. A general roll means one common roll for each constituency, not one nationwide electoral roll.

• Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes does not create separate electoral rolls; all eligible electors of the constituency may vote.
• The prohibition concerns discrimination based solely on the listed grounds; inclusion still depends on constitutionally and legally prescribed voter qualifications.

Statutory implementation

The Representation of the People Act, 1950 provides the framework for preparing electoral rolls. Subject to statutory disqualifications, a person must be at least 18 years old on the qualifying date and ordinarily resident in the constituency to be registered.

• Sections 15-19 govern preparation of rolls, disqualifications, prevention of multiple registration and conditions for registration.
• Article 326 separately establishes elections on the basis of adult suffrage, subject to constitutional or legislative disqualifications.