Electoral Politics

Why do we need election?

Finding out if the people like their representatives or not requires a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives and change them at different intervals. That is why elections are essential.

What makes an election democratic? First everyone should be able to choose

their representatives.

Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections.

Elections must be held regularly after a certain interval.

The candidates preferred by the people should get elected.

Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner.

Election procedure in India First of all the entire area –the whole country in the case of the Lok sabha elections is divided into as many constituencies as there are seats.

After the demarkation of a constituency , the voters’ list of each constituency is prepared and published.

The dates of election, filing of nomination papers and withdrawals are fixed by the election commission. Any person who wants to fight the elections can file his nomination papers.

The next stage in elections is the election campaign by the candidates and the political parties.

On the date fixed earlier, the voting is held . For voting election booths are set up. Voters go to the polling booths and vote the candidates of their choice.

After the voting is over, the ballots are sealed and taken to the counting centers.

There the ballot boxes are opened before the candidates or their agents and votes are counted.

The candidate having the highest no. of votes wins the elections.

Merits in favour of Universal Adult FranchiseThe system is truly democratic as it

gives political equalitiesto all the citizens irrespectivve of their caste, creed, gender e.t.c.

Adult franchise spread the message that all the citizens are equal and no one is privilidged. This promotes National unity.

The system rouses political awakening among all the citizens.

Demerits against Universal Adult Franchise The illiterate persons are not able to

exercise their right to vote properly.

Poor people are liable to sell their votes.

This system is very expensive. Large scale arrangements have to be made for the elections.

Challenges of Indian Elections Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be

sure of their victory but they do enjoy a big and unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents.

In some parts of the country candidates with a criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a ticket from major parties.

Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to the relatives from these families.

Very often the elections offer a little choice to ordinary people, for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice.

This presentation is brought to you

by:Nishtha

Class 9th –BRoll no. 14

Thank you