Under Article 243K and 243ZA of the Constitution of India, the State Election Commission is vested with powers of superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of Electoral Rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The State Election Commission is a single-member body consisting of the State Election Commissioner. The State Election Commission, Odisha came into existence on 27th May 1994. After its constitution, the first General Election to PRIs as well as Urban Local Bodies was held in the year 1997.
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
In three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions, direct elections are held to the offices of Ward Member, Sarpanch, Panchayat Samiti Member, and Zilla Parishad Member. Indirect elections are held to the offices of Naib Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat, Chairman, Vice-Chairman of Panchayat Samiti, and President/Vice-President of Zilla Parishad. The Acts and Rules governing these elections are:
- Odisha Gram Panchayat Act, 1964
- Odisha Panchayat Samiti Act, 1959
- Odisha Zilla Parishad Act, 1991
- Odisha Gram Panchayat Election Rules, 1965
- Odisha Panchayat Samiti Election Rules, 1991
- Odisha Zilla Parishad Election Rules, 1994
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
For Urban Local Bodies, direct elections are held for the offices of Councillors of Municipalities and NACs, and Corporators for Municipal Corporations. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of Municipalities and NACs, and the Mayor/Deputy Mayor for Municipal Corporations are elected indirectly. The Acts and Rules governing elections to Urban Local Bodies are:
- Odisha Municipal Act, 1950
- Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003
- Odisha Municipal (Delimitation of Wards, Reservation of Seats and Conduct of Election) Rules, 1994
- Odisha Municipal Corporation (Division of City into Wards, Reservation of Seats and Conduct of Election) Rules, 2003
