8/3/2019 Graduates Constituency Election FAQ

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Source: http://www.loksattakarnataka.org/

SOME F.A.Q. REGARDING GRADUATE COUNCIL VOTER REGISTRATION

1. WHAT IS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL?Karnataka is a bicameral state, meaning that it has two houses of government - the Assembly(Vidhan Sabha lower house) and the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad upper house).The LC is a permanent body, meaning it cannot be dissolved and its members have 6 year-

term. Karnataka Legislative Council consists of 75 numbers, of which 1/3 retire every two

years.

25 members of the LC are elected by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, 25 are elected by

local authorities, 7 are elected by the Graduates, 7 are elected by the Teachers and 11members are nominated by the Governor of Karnataka.

2. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A MEMBER OF LEGLISLATIVE COUNCIL (MLC)?MLCs, like MLAs, are the members of state legislature. A bill has to be passed in bothhouses of the legislature to become a law. An MLC can also introduce a bill, except a money

bill which only MLAs can introduce. If there is a confidence motion, only MLAs are allowed

to vote. Most ministers in the state government are MLAs, although a few MLCs have served

as ministers.

Current Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda will most probably become an MLC within next

few weeks to be able to continue as a chief minister, as he is not currently an MLA.

3. WHAT IS A GRADUATES CONSTITUENCY?The seven Graduates Constituencies each consist of a few districts. In elections to these

constituencies, only a subset of the population is allowed to vote - residents of theconstituency who hold a college degree from any recognised University in India, which they

received at least three years ago. Voters must separately register as Graduate voters to be

eligible to cast their votes. In 2012, three of the Graduates Constituencies will witnesselections, including the Bangalore Graduates constituency.

4. WHAT IS THE BANGALORE GRADUATES CONSTITUENCY?The Bangalore Graduates constituency includes 36 MLA constituencies, of which 28 are in

the BBMP area, and the others in the rural areas around the city (Bangalore Rural andRamanagar districts). The constituency is currently represented by Ramachandra Gowda,

who was elected in 2006.

5. WHY IS THE UPCOMING MLC ELECTION IMPORTANT?Very often, educated people feel that their opinions do not count in a general election where

cash, caste and liquor seem to play a huge role. Here is an opportunity for educated voters to

8/3/2019 Graduates Constituency Election FAQ

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Source: http://www.loksattakarnataka.org/

send a representative of our choice a clean and competent representative who is answerable

to us to the state legislature. But we cannot do so, if we dont register to vote before Nov

5th

, 2011. The numbers from the last election demonstrates that most of the eligible graduates

were NOT even registered to vote.

Estimated Citizens Eligible to register (As on 2006): 7,00,000 (7 lakh)

o Actual Voters Registered : 60,000 (approx) 8% of the total eligible!)o Actual Votes polled in the last Elections: 21,270o Votes Earned by winning candidate: 11,423 i.e. a mere 1.6% of the

eligible graduates voted for the winning candidate

Estimated Citizens Eligible to register (As on today): 15,00,000 (15 lakhs)!!!6. I AM A GRADUATE AND HAVE A VOTER CARD. CAN I VOTE?

Graduate Constituency Elections require a separate registration. You will NOT be able to

use your voter ID card which you use for Assembly, Parliamentary or Ward elections.

7. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER?If you live anywhere in Bangalore and if you hold a graduate degree from any recognizedUniversity in India, you are eligible to register to vote for Bangalore Graduate Constituency.

8. HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?Step 1: Fill out Form-18, sign it and attach supporting documents.

o You can print a copy of Form-18 (or collect it from a designated officer at one ofthe 39 locations in the constituency)o Make a copy of an address proof and self-attest it. (such as Ration Card, regular

Voter ID card, passport, drivers license, electricity bill etc.)

o Make a copy of degree certificate and self-attest it.Step 2: Have a Gazetted officer attest the address proof and copy of degree certificate.

o If you go in person to the registration location and take the original degreecertificate along, you dont need attestation by a Gazetted officer.

Step 3: Submit to the registration office designated for your area and collect theacknowledgement portion of the form-18.

o One member of the family can submit the applications of other family members.o The officer at the registration location will verify the documents.

Voter Registration Open: OCT 1 NOV 5, 2011