CHAPTER 4-ELECTORAL POLITICS

Ques. 1 What makes an election democratic?

Ans. 1
The conditions of a democratic election are:
1.Everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one
vote and every vote should have one value.
2.There should be something to choose from Parties and candidates should be
free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters
Multiparty system
3. The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly
after every few years.
4. The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
5.The elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people
can choose as they really wish.
6. There should be an independent Election Commission in the country.
7.Just before elections any party or minister must not take any
Important decision must not make any big promise to the people.

Ques.2. Why do we need elections?

Ans. 2. In a democracy it is not possible for everyone to sit together every day
and take all the decisions, so the people choose representatives. Also there is no
other democratic way of selecting representatives except elections. Therefore we
need to conduct elections in democracies. In an election the voters can:
1. Choose who will make laws for them.
2. Choose who will form the government and take major decisions.
3. Choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making.
Through elections, people can also remove leaders who do not work for them.

Ques.3. What is an election?

And. 3 The mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular
intervals and change them if they wish to do so to be called an election.

Ques.4. What unfair practices are used in elections?

Ans. 4Some unfair practices used in elections are:
1.Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters list.
2. Misuse of government facilities and officials by the ruling party.
3. Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties.
4. Intimidation of voters and rigging on the polling day.

Ques.5. What are the demerits of political competition?

Ans. The demerits of political competition are:
1. It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.
2. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another.
3. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win election.
Ques6. Discuss the election process in India.

Ans. The election process is as follows:

(a) ELECTORAL CONSTITUENCY:- The country is divided into 543 areas for
purpose of elections. The voters who live in an area elect one representative.

(b) VOTER’S LIST - The list of those who are eligible to vote in elections is prepared.
An Election Photo Identity Card is given to every person whose name is on the
voter’s list.

(c) NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES - Political parties nominate their candidates

who get the party symbol and support. The candidate then has to fill a nomination
form and give some money as security deposit. He has to make a legal declaration
of criminal cases against them, details of assets and educational qualifications.

(d) ELECTION CAMPAIGN – It takes place for a two - week period between the
announcement of the final list of candidate and the date of polling. During this period
the candidates contact their voters. Political leaders address election meetings and
political parties mobilize their supporters.

(e) POLLING: Every person whose name is on the voter’s list can go to a nearby
polling both. Once the voter goes inside the booth, election officials identify her to
cast her vote.

(f) COUNTING OF VOTES- Once polling is over, all the EVMs are sealed and taken
to a secure place. A few days later, on a fixed date, all the EVMs from a constituency
are opened and the vote secured by each candidate who secures the highest
number of votes is declared elected.

HOTS QUESTIONS (CH-04- ELECTORAL POLITICS)

Q1. WHY SHOULD THERE BE AN INDEPENDENT ELECTION COMMISSION?

Q2. HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT THE ELECTION PROCESS IN INDIA IS FAIR?

Q3. How are smaller parties affected by the election process? What challenges they
face at various levels of political competition?