Candidate Affidavit
The sworn declaration of assets, liabilities and criminal cases filed at nomination.
Short answer
What is Candidate Affidavit?
Every candidate must file a sworn affidavit at nomination declaring assets, liabilities, educational qualifications and any pending criminal cases. Affidavits are published by the Election Commission.
Definition
Every candidate must file a sworn affidavit at nomination declaring assets, liabilities, educational qualifications and any pending criminal cases. Affidavits are published by the Election Commission.
Why It Matters
Affidavits are public, citable and the foundation of legitimate opposition research. They are also a recurring source of campaign difficulty when declarations are inconsistent across cycles.
Example in Indian Elections
Opposition research works from published affidavits and other public records exclusively — never from surveillance or private information.
Related Terms
- Model Code of ConductECI guidelines governing party and candidate conduct once an election is announced.
- Silence PeriodThe 48 hours before polling closes when public campaigning is prohibited.
- Election Expenditure LimitThe statutory cap on what a candidate may spend on their campaign.
- DPDP Act 2023India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, governing personal data processing.
- Paid NewsEditorial coverage secretly purchased and presented as independent journalism.
- Polling BoothThe individual polling station where a defined group of voters casts their votes.