Every political party has an election symbol.

The election symbol that every political party has is called an electoral symbol. Itis a standardized symbol allocated to a political party.

Uses of symbols

1. Symbols are used by parties in their campaigning,

2. They are printed on ballot papers where a voter must make a mark to vote for the associated party.

3. Their purpose is to help voting by illiterate people, who cannot read parties' names on ballot papers

4. Political Parties are identified by their symbols.

Selection of electoral symbols

1. The Commission has a list of symbols choose over the years.

2. The apex election office in New Delhi maintains at least 100 free symbols that have not been allotted to any party, at any point of time.

3. The symbols chosen are such that they can be effortlessly understood, remembered and recognized by the average voter.