In every contested election a symbol is allotted to each contesting candidate. Different symbol are allotted to different candidates contesting at an election in the same constituency.
There are two categories of symbols. They are:
1. Reserved symbol - It is a symbol which is reserved for a recognized National or State party. It varies from State to State.
2. Free symbol - The symbol other than a reserved symbol is known as a free symbol. It is common for all Union Territories and States.
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The Election Commission of India, the body that runs and monitors elections in the world's largest democracy, have made several interesting design decisions, many aimed at ensuring that as many voters as possible can participate in the process. Given India's immense diversity and the fact that many voters are still illiterate, the use of symbols to represent political parties and individual candidates on a ballot paper has been a significant choice. This removes the problem of locating a person/party's name on the ballot paper via text. The names of the party and candidate are still on the paper, but are secondary in size and stature. The candidate would then put a 'stamp' next to the symbol.
India has largely moved to Electronic Voting Machines now; this makes it even more voter-friendly, for all one has to do is to push a button next to the symbol.
The use of such symbols has made elections more accessible to the most illiterate in India. Even with increasing literacy, this is unlikely to go away, given how integral this idea has become.
