Election symbols: A complex matter of choice & sanction

The Sena vs Sena battle has brought the focus back on how poll symbols are issued. Here are the hows and whys of an issue that's more than symbolic

How does EC compile/update its list of notified free symbols?

The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 provides for specification, reservation, choice, and allotment of symbols to political parties or candidates in a parliamentary or assembly election. The EC, being the implementing authority of this order, has been notifying the list of poll symbols since the first general election, including those 'reserved' for exclusive use by candidates put up by recognized national and state parties and the 'free' ones allotted to candidates of registered unrecognized parties or independent contestants.

All poll symbols are the property of the EC. Care is taken while preparing the list of free symbols so that they don't resemble one another or a reserved symbol. Free symbols depict easily identifiable items that the voter, even if illiterate, can rely on to distinguish one candidate from another. The free symbols list -as last updated on September 23, 2021 had 197 entries.

The list is dynamic in the sense that some free symbols become reserved when a new party gets enough votes or is elected to get recognized at the state level. Also, when a recognized party loses the status of a state party, its reserved symbol is not touched for a minimum of six years. Thereafter, the reserved symbol can be declared free. A new party can pick three symbols from the free list or propose a symbol not on the list. The EC evaluates the proposed symbol names and design to ensure that they do not bear resemblance to any other symbol. The symbols order also restricts allotment of a symbol reserved for a state party in states where it is not recognized; or one that has a religious or communal connotation.