Electoral Politics

• Why Elections?

  • Need for Elections
    • Mechanism for people to choose representatives
    • Essential for any representative democracy
    • Voters can choose who makes laws, policies, and governs
  • What makes an election democratic?
    • Everyone should be able to choose (Universal Adult Franchise)
    • Parties and candidates must be free to contest
    • Choice offered at regular intervals
    • Preferred candidate must get elected
    • Elections must be conducted in a free and fair manner

• System of Elections in India

  • Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha Elections
    • Held regularly every 5 years
    • Term expires, leading to a General Election or By-election
  • Electoral Constituencies
    • Country divided into specific areas for voters and representatives
    • Lok Sabha: 543 constituencies
    • Reserved Constituencies for SC and ST to ensure weaker sections get representation
  • Voters' List
    • Also known as the Electoral Roll
    • Prepared well in advance
    • Eligible citizens aged 18 years and above can vote
    • Epic (Voter ID Card) issued, though other proofs are valid
  • Nomination of Candidates
    • Minimum age to contest: 25 years
    • Candidates must fill a nomination form and give a security deposit
    • Legal declaration (Affidavit) of assets, liabilities, and educational qualifications
  • Election Campaign
    • Crucial 2-week period between nominations and polling
    • Parties pitch ideas to voters
    • Slogans: Garibi Hatao, Save Democracy, Land to the Tiller
    • Code of Conduct: Rules set by the EC (no religious use of places, no bribes)
  • Polling and Counting of Votes
    • Casting vote using EVM (Electronic Voting Machine)
    • Agents of candidates check for fair voting
    • Counting day: Candidates with highest votes win

• Independent Election Commission (EC)

  • Role of the EC
    • Conducts and controls elections
    • Headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
  • Powers of the EC
    • Takes decisions on every aspect from announcement to results
    • Implements Code of Conduct and punishes violators
    • Can order govt to follow guidelines
    • Officials on election duty work under EC, not the government

• Popular Participation

  • Turnout Figures
    • Voter turnout indicates people's participation
    • In India, turnout has either remained stable or gone up
  • Acceptance of Election Outcome
    • Ruling parties routinely lose elections in India
    • Free and fair nature proved by the acceptance of defeat by incumbents

• Challenges to Free and Fair Elections

  • Money and Muscle Power
    • Use of huge sums of money by big parties
    • Involvement of candidates with criminal records
  • Dynastic Politics
    • Tickets distributed to family members, lack of internal democracy
  • Limited Choice
    • Parties often share similar policies and practices, offering little real choice to voters