Free symbol
Topic: Political Parties, Party Systems and Anti-defection · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A free symbol is a symbol on the Election Commission's list that is not reserved for any party. Returning Officers, the officials who run the election in each constituency, give free symbols to independent candidates and to candidates of registered unrecognised parties. A registered unrecognised party can also ask for one common free symbol for all its candidates under paragraph 10B of the Symbols Order. This helps voters, especially those who cannot read, find the candidate they want.
Example
Suppose an independent candidate is contesting a Lok Sabha seat. That candidate cannot use the lotus or the hand. Instead, the Returning Officer gives the candidate a symbol from the ECI's list of free symbols.
Don't confuse with
- Reserved symbol: a symbol that only a recognised party's candidates can use, such as the lotus or the hand.