In the line of duty: On April 16, Indians will begin lining up for the biggest election the world has ever held. The planet's largest democracy has 714 million eligible voters, double the entire U.S. population. Over five stages of voting -- on April 16, 23, and 30, and May 7* and 13 -- Indians will elect politicians to 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. Running for office are 5,533 candidates representing 1,055 parties. Above, men show their voting identity cards while waiting to vote in India's last general election on April 20, 2004, in Sangli in Maharashtra state.