2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Election procedure in IndiaFirst 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.
5. 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.
6. Merits in favour of Universal
Adult Franchise
The 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.
7. Demerits against Universal
Adult FranchiseThe 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.
8. 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.
