OUR OWN HIGH SCHOOL AL WARQA’A DUBAI

ELECTORAL POLITICS (CH-4)

2021-2022

Q1) What are the different measures taken to ensure free and fair
elections in India?

 The election commission has the power to implement the code of

conduct and punish any candidate or party that violates it.
 No bribes of threatening to the voters.
 No appeal by the candidates in the name of caste or religion.
 Election expenditure should not exceed more than 25 lakhs for the
Lok Sabha and 10 lakhs in the assembly election.

What is Election?
 Election is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at
regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so. It is the process through
which people choose their representatives to form the government. Parliament
election or Assembly election.

Q2) Why do we need elections?

A. This requires a mechanism by which people can choose their

representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do
so.
1. They can choose who will make laws for them.
2. They can choose who will form the government and take major
decisions.
3. They can choose the party whose policies will guide the
government and law making.

Q3) What is the process of nomination?

 Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill

nomination form and give some money as security deposit.
 Recently the Supreme Court declared that every candidate has to
make a legal declaration by each candidate.
 serious criminal cases pending against the candidate is not eligible
to contest the elections
  details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her
family
 Education qualification of the candidate.
 This information has to be made public. This provides an
opportunity to the voter to make their decision on the basis of the
information provided by the candidate.

Q4) What makes elections in India democratic?

a) Independent Election Commission:

The Chief Election Commissioner is elected by the president of
India. But once appointed, the CEC. Is not answerable to the
president or the government.

b) Popular Participation:
In India the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in
larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged section.

c) Acceptance of Election Outcome:

The outcome of India’s election speaks for itself. The ruling parties
routinely lose elections in India both at the national level and
state level.

d) Regular Elections:
In India Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha election are held regularly
after every five years. After five years the term of all the elected
representatives comes to an end.

e) Everyone should have one vote and every vote should have
equal value

f) Election should be conducted in a free and fair manner where

the people can choose or they ally wish.

Q5) Mention the power and functions of the Election Commission of

India.

 The election commission prepares the electoral rolls where the

name father’s name, age, etc of the voter are clearly mentioned.
  It plans the election schedule, appoints the election officials and
ensures that free and fair elections are held.
 The election commission allots symbols and prints ballot papers.
 It implements the Code Of Conduct and punishes any candidate or
party who violates it.
 It scrutinizes the nomination papers and ensures that the party in
power doesn’t get an undue advantage over other parties or
individuals.
 Fixing of election date.
 Checking undue interference of the Party-in-power

Q6) State the features of the Model Code of Conduct which all political
parties have agreed to adhere to during elections.

A. According to the Model Code of Conduct:

 Places of worship will not be used for election propaganda.
 Government transport including official aircrafts, vehicles,
machinery and personnel shall not be used by ministers and the
ruling party.
 No flags, no banners or slogans shall be placed on any buildings
without the owner’s permission.
 Criticism of the opponents shall be limited to their policies,
programs and past records and will not mention their personal
lives.

Q7) Explain the major challenges to free and fair election.

a) Use of Money:
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.

b) Criminal and Politics:

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

c) Nepotism:
Some families tend to dominate political parties tickets are
distributed to relative from these families.
 d) Corrupt Politicians:
Most of the candidates are corrupt and very often elections offer
little choice to ordinary citizens.

Q8) The makers of our Constitution have provided us with a special

system of reserved constituencies. Give reason.

 Our Constitution entitles every citizen to elect its representative

and to be elected as a representative.
 The Constitution makers however were worried that in an open
electoral competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a
good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative
Assemblies.
 These backward people may not have the required resources,
education and contacts to contest and win elections against others.
Those who are influential and resourceful may prevent them from
winning elections.
 If that happens, our parliament and Assemblies would be deprived
of the voice of a significant section of our population. That would
make our democracy less representative and less democratic.
 So to avoid this, some constituencies have been reserved for the
weaker sections.

Q9) Why there is a provision of reservation of seats in the legislature?

 The constitutions makers were worried that in an open electoral

competition, certain weaker sections may not stand a good
chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative
Assemblies.
 They may not have the required resources, education and
contacts to contest and win elections against the more influential
contestants. So seats are reserved for them in the legislature.

Q10) Explain the term constituency.

A. The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections.

These are called constituencies.
Q11) Mention any three techniques of election campaign.

 Candidates contact their voters.

 They address election meetings.
 Use newspapers and TV for publicity.

Q12) What are some of the activities undertaken by political parties to

carry out election campaign? Mention any three activities.

 In election political parties try to focus public attention on some

big issues. E.g: The Congress party led by Gandhi gave the slogan
of “Gharibi Hatao” in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971.
 “Save Democracy” was the slogan of Janta Party in Lok Sabha
election of 1977.
 Secondly, political leaders contact their voters, address election
meetings, and promise to remove the grievances of the people.
 Thirdly, support of media - TV Channels and newspaper columns -
is also taken by the political parties to further their cause to
gather more votes.

Q13) What are the restrictions placed on the political parties during
elections?

 During elections no party or candidate can bribe or threaten

voters.
 Political parties cannot appeal to the voters in the name of caste
or religion.
 Government resource cannot be used for an election campaign.
 There is a limit on the expenditure a candidate can incur during
an election campaign. A candidate cannot spend more than 25
lakhs for a Lok Sabha election and 10 lakhs in an assembly
election.

 Q.14.What is Voter’s List?

 In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is
prepared much before the
 Election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll
and is commonly
 Known as the Voters’ List.
 Q.15.What is meant by EPIC?
 It is a new system called Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC]. The government
has tried to give this card to every person on the voters list. The voters are
required to carry this card when they go out to vote, so that no one can vote
for someone else.

Q.16.What are the different stages of election procedure?

 Nomination of Candidates
 Election Campaign
 Polling and Counting of Votes (Explain points)

 Q.17.What is the difference between a voter and a candidate? What is

meant by Nomination of Candidates?
 Anyone who can be a voter can become a candidate in elections. The only
difference is that in Order to be a candidate the minimum age is 25 years,
while it is only 18 years for being a voter.

 There are some other restrictions on criminals etc.

 Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination
form’ and register their Name on or before the last date of the nomination.

 Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of :

 No serious criminal cases are pending against the candidate;
 Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family;
and:
 Educational qualifications of the candidate.

Q.18.State some unfair practices in the conducting of elections in India.

 Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters’ list;
 Misuse of government facilities and officials by the ruling party;
 Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties; and
 Intimidation of voters and rigging on the polling day.

 Q.19.Why should we have an Independent Election Commission in India?

 In our country elections are conducted by an independent and very
powerful
 Election Commission (EC). It enjoys the same kind of independence that the
judiciary enjoys. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the
 President of India. But once appointed, the Chief Election Commissioner is
not answerable to the President or the government. Even if the ruling party
or the government does not like what he Commission does, it is virtually
impossible for it to remove the CEC.
 To conduct elections in free-and-fair manner
 It ensures that no ruling party or government official influence the Election
Commission.

Q.20 Distinguish between General Election and By- election.

 􀀟 Elections that are held in all constituencies at the same time, either on the
same day or within a few Days, after a regular interval of five years are called
general elections.

 Days, after a regular interval of five years are called general elections.
 􀀟 Sometimes elections that are held only for one or a few constituencies to
fill the vacancies caused by death or resignation of members, these are
called a by-election.

 􀀟After a General Election a new government will be formed whereas in a by-

election the existing government will not change

Learn Definitions from page 74-----Important

Mr. Gerard Gomes