Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968

Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 is a statutory instrument issued by the Election Commission of India under Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The order codifies how electoral symbols—graphical icons that appear on ballot papers and electronic voting machines—are reserved for recognised national and state parties and how they are allotted to unrecognised parties and independent candidates. By assigning a unique visual identifier to each political entity, the order safeguards voter clarity in a nation where a substantial proportion of the electorate is illiterate and where party logos function as the primary means of political communication. ## Historical Background The need for a uniform symbol‑allocation regime emerged after India’s first general elections (1951‑52), when parties used ad‑hoc emblems that often duplicated one another. In response, the Election Commission drafted the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, which was formally notified on 30 December 1968 and came into force on 1 January 1969. The order built on the constitutional guarantee of free and fair elections (Article 324) and on the Commission’s statutory authority to prescribe “the manner of the conduct of elections” (Section 16 of the RPA). Its inaugural schedule listed twelve symbols—such as the Lotus, Hand, Bicycle, and Elephant—that could be reserved exclusively for parties recognised as national parties, and a separate set of five symbols for each state‑recognised party. ## Mechanism of Reservation and Allotment The order divides symbols into three categories: reserved, free, and unreserved. Reserved symbols are earmarked for parties that satisfy the recognition thresholds defined in Schedule III of the RPA (e.g., securing at least 6 % of the vote share in a state or winning a minimum number of seats in a Lok Sabha election). Free symbols are listed in Schedule II and may be requested by any party that lacks recognition; the Commission allocates them on a first‑come, first‑served basis after verifying that no conflict with a reserved symbol exists. Unreserved symbols, enumerated in Schedule III, are automatically assigned to independent candidates and to parties that fail to obtain a free symbol. Applications are filed through Form E‑1, examined by the Commission’s Symbol Allotment Cell, and the decision is published in the Official Gazette within ten days of receipt. ## Key Provisions of the 1968 Order - Clause 1(a) defines “reserved symbols” and stipulates that a symbol may be withdrawn if the party loses its recognised status for two consecutive general elections. - Clause 2(b) enumerates the “free symbols” and mandates that the Commission maintain a public register of all symbols allotted, updated quarterly. - Clause 3(c) outlines the “unreserved symbols” pool, specifying that these symbols cannot be claimed by any party and must be used only by independents. - Clause 4 prescribes the appeal mechanism: aggrieved parties may file a petition with the Election Commission within fifteen days, and the Commission must adjudicate within thirty days, publishing its order in the Gazette. - Clause 5 empowers the Commission to amend the schedules by notification, a power exercised most recently in 2020 to incorporate new digital‑compatible icons for electronic voting machines. ## Evolution and Current Implementation Since 1968 the order has been amended eleven times, notably in 1972, 1975, 1992, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015, and 2020. Each amendment has expanded the symbol list to accommodate emerging political formations and to align with the Election Commission’s shift to electronic voting. The 2020 amendment added twenty‑four new symbols—such as Coconut, Sheaf of Grain, and Two Leaves—to the free‑symbol schedule, reflecting the Commission’s effort to provide culturally resonant options across India’s diverse regions. Today, the order coexists with the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Rules, 1972, which detail procedural aspects like fee structures (₹ 2,500 for a free symbol) and timelines for re‑allocation after a party’s deregistration. ## Significance in Indian Electoral Politics The order’s impact extends beyond administrative convenience; it shapes party branding, voter perception, and campaign strategy. A reserved symbol becomes a legal asset that parties protect vigorously—evident in high‑profile disputes such as the 2014 contest over the Lotus between the Bharatiya Janata Party and a splinter group. Moreover, symbols function as a lingua franca for voters who cannot read party names, enabling rapid identification on paper ballots and