Free and fair election is the sine qua non of democracy. To ensure the conduct of elections in free, fair and impartial manner, articles 324–329 empower Parliament to make laws to regulate electoral process.

In this context, the Parliament has enacted the Representation of People Act, 1950 (RPA,1950) and Representation of People Act, 1951 (RPA,1951). The key difference between the two is that while RPA, 1950 provide for preparations before the actual elections, RPA, 1951 makes provisions for the actual conduct of elections.

1. RPA, 1950
   
   

• While articles 80, 170 and 171 fixed maximum and minimum number of seats in Parliament, legislative assemblies of states and legislative councils respectively, RPA,1950 provides for actual allocation of seats in these house.
  
  
• Lays down the qualification of voters
  
  
• Lays down procedures for the preparation of electoral rolls and the manner of filling seats.
  
  
• Procedures for delimitation of constituencies.
  
  

2. RP act, 1951.

• Regulates the actual conduct of elections and by-elections.
  
  
• Provides administrative machinery for conducting elections.
  
  
• Deals with the registration of political parties.
  
  
• Specifies the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of the houses.
  
  
• Provisions to curb corrupt practises and other electoral offences.
  
  
• Procedures for settling doubts and disputes arising out of elections.
  
  

Thus both the acts support and complement each other. They uphold direct and participatory democracy, accountability and transparency and ensure clean election process the outcome of which is acceptable to all ensuring peaceful transfer of power.