POLITICAL SCIENCE

Chapter – 3 (Electoral Politics)

Why Do We Need Elections?

In any democracy, elections serve as a crucial mechanism where citizens select their representatives
regularly. More than 100 countries worldwide conduct elections to choose these representatives. An
election allows voters to make several decisions:

(a) Legislative Representation: Voters can choose individuals who will create laws on their behalf.

(b) Government Formation: Voters decide which political party or coalition will form the government
and make significant decisions.

(c) Policy Direction: Voters select the party whose policies will influence government actions and
legislation.

Through elections, citizens actively participate in shaping their governance and ensuring that their voices
are heard in decision-making processes.

What Makes an Election Democratic?

A democratic election must fulfil several essential conditions to ensure fairness and representativeness:

1. Universal Suffrage: Every eligible citizen should have the right to choose their representative
freely, without any discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or social status.

2. Political Freedom: Parties and candidates should have the freedom to participate in elections
without undue restrictions, providing voters with genuine choices.

3. Regular Elections: Elections should be held at regular intervals as stipulated by law, ensuring that
people have the opportunity to periodically review and change their representatives.

4. Majority Rule: The candidate who receives the most votes should be elected, reflecting the will of
the majority of voters in that constituency or jurisdiction.

5. Free and Fair Process: Elections must be conducted in a transparent, impartial, and inclusive
manner. This ensures that voters can freely express their preferences and that all candidates have
equal opportunities to campaign and present their platforms.

Is It Good to Have Political Competition?

Political competition is generally considered beneficial for several reasons:

 1. Incentives for Performance: Regular electoral competition creates incentives for political parties
and leaders to perform well. Parties strive to address issues that resonate with voters to enhance
their popularity and electoral prospects. This ensures that elected representatives are motivated to
deliver on promises and address public concerns.

2. Accountability: Political parties understand that their ability to remain in power depends on their
performance and responsiveness to the electorate.

3. Service Orientation: Even if a political party or leader is primarily motivated by the desire to attain
or retain power, competition compels them to focus on serving the electorate. Parties must
demonstrate their effectiveness and responsiveness to gain and maintain electoral support. This
leads to policies and governance that are more attuned to the needs and aspirations of the people.

What is system of elections in India?

In India, elections are conducted for two primary legislative bodies: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and
the Vidhan Sabha (State Legislative Assembly). These elections occur regularly every five years, marking
the end of the term for all elected representatives.

A) General Elections
General Elections in India are held simultaneously across all constituencies either on the same day or
within a few days. During these elections, voters cast their ballots to choose their representatives at both
the national and state levels.
B) Bye-Elections
Election occurs when a vacancy in a constituency arises due to the death or resignation of a sitting
member. In such cases, only that specific constituency conducts an election to fill the vacant seat.

Electoral Constituencies
In India, electoral constituencies are geographical areas designated for elections where voters elect their
representatives. Here’s how it works across different levels of governance:

1. Lok Sabha Constituencies: India is divided into 543 constituencies for Lok Sabha elections. Each
constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the national parliament.
2. Assembly Constituencies: Each state in India is divided into a specific number of Assembly
constituencies. Voters in these constituencies elect their representatives known as Members of the
Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Each Parliamentary constituency comprises several assembly
constituencies.
3. Local Body Elections: Similar principles apply to elections for Panchayats (village councils) and
Municipalities (urban local bodies). Villages and towns are divided into smaller units called wards,
which act as constituencies. Each ward elects one member to represent them in the local body.

Reserved Constituencies
In India, reserved constituencies are specific electoral areas set aside to ensure representation for marginalized
communities. Here’s how it works:
Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Reservations:
 • In the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament), 84 seats are reserved for candidates from Scheduled
Castes (SC), and 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST).
• Only candidates belonging to the respective Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community can contest
elections from these reserved constituencies.

Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Women Reservations:

• Apart from SC and ST reservations, many states in India have also reserved seats in rural (panchayat)
and urban (municipalities and corporations) local bodies for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and women
candidates.
• This ensures that these communities also have adequate representation at the grassroots level of
governance.

Voters’ List
• In democratic elections, the Voters’ List, officially known as the Electoral Roll, plays a crucial role.
• It’s prepared well in advance of the election and contains the names of all eligible voters.
• This list ensures that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to vote.

Nomination of Candidates

• In India, anyone eligible to vote can also contest elections as a candidate, provided they are at least 25
years old.
• To officially enter the electoral race, a candidate must fill out a ‘nomination form’ and deposit a
specified amount of money as security.

Election Campaign
• Election campaigns in India are crucial periods for candidates and political parties to communicate their
policies and appeal to voters.
• These campaigns span two weeks between the final candidate list announcement and the polling date.
• During this time, candidates engage directly with voters, leaders hold rallies, and parties rally their
supporters

Polling and Counting of Votes

On election day, voters in India cast their votes at designated polling booths. Here’s how the process unfolds:

1. Eligible voters go to their assigned polling booth where election officials verify their identity and mark
their finger to prevent multiple voting.
2. Inside the polling booth, agents of each candidate ensure fairness as voters cast their votes.
3. Traditional ballot papers have been replaced by electronic voting machines (EVMs):
• EVMs display names of candidates and their party symbols.
• Voters simply press a button next to their chosen candidate’s name to cast their vote.
4. After voting ends, all EVMs are sealed and transported securely.
5. A few days later, the sealed EVMs are opened, and votes for each candidate are counted.
 6. The candidate with the highest number of votes in a constituency is declared the winner.

This process ensures transparency and efficiency in counting votes, leading to the election of representatives
based on the preferences of the electorate.

What Makes Election in India Democratic?

Independent Election Commission: In India, elections are overseen by the Election Commission (EC), which
operates independently. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President and holds
significant powers:

• The EC manages all aspects of elections, from announcing dates to declaring results.
• It enforces a Code of Conduct and penalizes parties or candidates for violations.
• During elections, the EC can direct the government to ensure fairness and prevent misuse of power.
• Government officials on election duty report to the EC, not the government itself.

Popular Participation: The democratic nature of Indian elections is reflected in the high voter turnout:

• Voter turnout shows the percentage of eligible voters who actually vote.
• In India, turnout is notably high among poor, illiterate, and underprivileged citizens compared to the
wealthy.
• Voters believe elections empower them to influence policies and programs of political parties.

Acceptance of Election Outcome: A crucial aspect of democratic elections is the acceptance of election
results:

• In India, ruling parties frequently lose elections at both national and state levels.
• Unlike in some countries where incumbents rarely lose, about half of sitting MPs or MLAs in India are
defeated in elections.

Challenges to Free and Fair Elections

Challenges to ensuring free and fair elections in India persist despite the overall integrity of the electoral
process. These challenges include:
Financial Advantage: Candidates and parties with substantial financial resources often have an unfair edge
over smaller parties that lack similar financial backing. This disparity can skew the electoral playing field in
favor of wealthy candidates or parties.

Criminal Influence: Candidates with criminal backgrounds sometimes secure party nominations, sidelining
other candidates and influencing electoral outcomes through intimidation or illicit means. This undermines the
fairness of the electoral process.

Dynastic Politics: In some cases, political parties favor candidates from influential families, granting them
party tickets based on familial connections rather than merit or public support. This practice limits the diversity
of candidates and restricts genuine electoral choices.
Limited Choice: Despite a multi-party system, major political parties in India often have similar policies and
practices. This reduces the diversity of ideas and limits the choices available to voters, especially in terms of
substantive policy differences.
Disadvantages for Smaller Parties: Smaller political parties and independent candidates face significant
challenges in competing against larger, well-established parties. They often struggle with limited resources, less
visibility, and inadequate representation in mainstream media.