How are the members of the Lok Sabha elected?

Short answer: Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected by India’s voters from 543 single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system for a normal term of five years. India is divided into many voting areas called parliamentary constituencies. 

In each constituency, many candidates may contest. Voters choose one candidate and cast one vote. The candidate who gets the highest number of votes (even if not more than 50%) wins the seat. This method is called first-past-the-post. There are 543 such seats that people elect. Normally, elections happen every five years, unless the Lok Sabha is dissolved earlier. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Legal and constitutional backbone

• Constitutional composition: Article 81 explains how the House of the People (Lok Sabha) is composed and how seats are allocated among States and Union Territories. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• Voting method: The Election Commission of India states that Lok Sabha elections are conducted on the FPTP principle: the candidate with the most votes in a constituency is declared elected. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• Universal adult suffrage: Every citizen aged 18 or above who is registered can vote, and members are directly elected by these voters. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Step-by-step process (easy view)

1. Delimitation & constituencies: The country is divided into 543 single-member constituencies to ensure roughly equal population representation within each state. (Delimitation updates are guided by the Constitution and relevant laws.) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
2. Election announcement & nominations: The Election Commission announces the schedule. Candidates file nomination papers and, after scrutiny, the final list is published. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
3. Campaigning & voting: Parties/candidates campaign. Voting is conducted—generally using EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines)—often in phases for logistics and security in a country this large. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
4. Counting & results: Votes are counted, postal ballots first and then EVM votes, and the highest-vote candidate in each constituency wins. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
5. Government formation: The party or alliance with at least 272 seats (simple majority) is invited to form the government. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}