Electoral Politics ||Political Science|| Chapter 3 Notes

Electoral Politics ||Political Science|| Chapter 3 NCERT Notes

1. Why Do We Need Elections?

Elections are a process by which people can choose their representatives. Elections are needed for the following reasons:

a) People Can Choose Their Representatives

  • In a democracy, people cannot govern directly. Hence, they elect representatives to make decisions and laws on their behalf.

b) Accountability of the Government

  • Elections make the government accountable. Through elections, citizens can replace a government that is not performing well.

c) Regular Change of Government

  • Elections allow for the peaceful transfer of power from one party to another. Without elections, rulers may become dictators or monopolize power.

d) Legitimacy of the Government

  • Elections give legitimacy to a government. A government elected by the people is seen as a legitimate authority.

2. What Makes an Election Democratic?

For an election to be democratic, certain conditions must be fulfilled. A democratic election has the following characteristics:

a) Everyone Should Have One Vote and Every Vote Should Have Equal Value

  • In a democracy, universal adult franchise ensures that every citizen, regardless of their wealth, education, gender, caste, or religion, has one vote with equal value.
  • Example: In India, every citizen above the age of 18 has the right to vote.

b) There Should Be Choices

  • A democratic election must offer real choices to voters. Different political parties or candidates must compete, representing different ideologies and policy programs.
  • Example: In India, multiple political parties like the Congress, BJP, regional parties, and independent candidates contest elections, offering various choices to voters.

c) Free and Fair Elections

  • Free and fair elections mean that voters should be able to cast their votes without any pressure, threat, or influence. Election results should reflect the true will of the people.
  • There should be no rigging, booth capturing, or manipulation of results.

d) Regular Elections

  • In a democracy, elections are held at regular intervals, usually every 5 years, to ensure that the government remains accountable to the people.

3. The Election System in India

India follows a democratic system of elections at different levels:

a) Lok Sabha Elections (Parliamentary Elections)

  • The Lok Sabha is the lower house of India's Parliament. It consists of 543 elected members.
  • India is divided into 543 constituencies, and one Member of Parliament (MP) is elected from each constituency. The party or coalition with a majority of MPs forms the government.

b) State Assembly Elections

  • Every state in India has a Legislative Assembly, with members elected from various Assembly constituencies.
  • The party or coalition that wins the majority of seats forms the state government, and its leader becomes the Chief Minister.

c) Local Government Elections

  • Panchayat and Municipality elections are held at the local level. These elections are crucial for grassroots democracy, where people elect representatives to govern their villages, towns, or cities.

4. Electoral Constituencies

a) What Is a Constituency?

  • A constituency is a specific geographic area where voters elect a representative. For example, a Lok Sabha constituency is a region that elects one MP.
  • India is divided into 543 Lok Sabha constituencies for the purpose of parliamentary elections. Each constituency elects one member to the Lok Sabha.

b) Single-Member and Multi-Member Constituencies

  • Single-member constituencies elect one representative, as in the Lok Sabha.
  • In some countries, multi-member constituencies exist, where multiple representatives are elected from the same constituency.

c) Reserved Constituencies

  • Some constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Only SC or ST candidates can contest from these constituencies, but everyone in the constituency can vote.
  • This ensures political representation for historically disadvantaged communities.

5. Voters’ List

a) Preparation of Voters’ List

  • A voters' list, or Electoral Roll, is prepared for each constituency. It contains the names of all citizens eligible to vote.
  • Every citizen aged 18 years or older is eligible to vote, provided their name is on the voters’ list.
  • The voters' list is regularly updated to include new voters and remove the names of deceased individuals or those who have moved away.

b) Importance of the Voters’ List

  • The voters’ list ensures that every eligible citizen can participate in the election and prevents fraud or duplication of votes.

6. Nomination of Candidates

a) Who Can Contest Elections?

  • Any citizen of India who meets the minimum qualifications set by the Constitution can contest elections. For instance, to contest Lok Sabha elections, the candidate must be at least 25 years old.
  • Political parties field their candidates, and independent candidates can also contest without party affiliation.

b) Filing Nomination

  • A candidate must fill out a nomination form and deposit a security amount to contest elections.
  • The nomination form includes a declaration of criminal records, assets, liabilities, and educational qualifications.

c) Importance of Declarations

  • Declarations help voters make informed decisions. For example, they can know if a candidate has a criminal background or is extremely wealthy.

7. Election Campaigns

a) Purpose of Election Campaigns

  • Election campaigns allow political parties and candidates to reach out to voters and explain their policies, promises, and visions for the future.
  • Campaigns are conducted through public meetings, speeches, rallies, door-to-door visits, media, and social media.

b) Election Code of Conduct

  • To ensure fairness in campaigning, the Election Commission of India imposes an Election Code of Conduct. This code ensures that:
    • Political parties and candidates do not use government resources for their campaigns.
    • No party or candidate can bribe or threaten voters.
    • Campaigning must stop 48 hours before polling day.

c) Limit on Election Expenses

  • To prevent candidates from buying votes, there are limits on how much money a candidate can spend during their campaign.
  • The Election Commission monitors candidates' expenses to ensure compliance with the limit.

8. Polling and Counting of Votes

a) Polling Day

  • On polling day, voters go to their respective polling booths to cast their vote.
  • Polling booths are set up by the Election Commission in every constituency. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are used to cast votes.

b) Secret Ballot

  • Voting is done by secret ballot to protect the privacy of the voter’s choice. This prevents intimidation or influence over voters.

c) Counting of Votes

  • After polling ends, the EVMs are sealed and transported to counting centers.
  • On counting day, votes are counted under strict supervision. The candidate with the most votes in a constituency is declared the winner.

9. Election Commission of India

a) What Is the Election Commission?

  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an independent and impartial body that conducts and oversees elections in India. It ensures that elections are free, fair, and transparent.

b) Powers of the Election Commission

  • The Election Commission is responsible for:
    • Preparing and updating the voters’ list.
    • Conducting elections at the national, state, and local levels.
    • Supervising election campaigns and ensuring that the Election Code of Conduct is followed.
    • Monitoring election expenses and preventing electoral malpractices like vote-buying, rigging, and booth capturing.

c) Free and Fair Elections

  • The Election Commission has the power to ensure free and fair elections by:
    • Deploying police and security forces to prevent violence or disruption.
    • Banning candidates or parties found to be involved in illegal activities during elections.

10. Challenges to Free and Fair Elections

Despite the robust election system in India, several challenges remain:

a) Money and Muscle Power

  • Some candidates use money to buy votes or muscle power to intimidate voters. Rich candidates may use their wealth to influence the outcome of elections.

b) Criminal Candidates

  • Some candidates with criminal backgrounds contest elections and sometimes win due to their influence or popularity in certain areas.

c) Caste and Religious Influence

  • In certain regions, voting is influenced by caste, religion, or community loyalties, rather than political ideologies.

d) Vote Rigging

  • Although rare, in some cases, elections may be affected by rigging or booth capturing in certain areas.

11. Reforms to Strengthen Democracy

To address the challenges of free and fair elections, the following reforms are necessary:

a) Election Funding Reform

  • There should be stricter regulations on how much money political parties and candidates can spend on elections.
  • Public funding of political campaigns could be considered to reduce the influence of wealthy candidates.

b) Strong Action Against Criminals in Politics

  • Political parties should avoid fielding candidates with criminal records. The Election Commission should have the authority to disqualify candidates with proven criminal charges.

c) Voter Education

  • Educating voters about the importance of making informed choices, rather than being swayed by caste, religion, or money, can strengthen democracy.

d) Stronger Penalties for Electoral Malpractices

  • Stricter laws and penalties for vote-buying, booth capturing, and other malpractices can deter candidates from corrupt practices.

Summary:

The chapter on Electoral Politics explains the significance of elections in a democratic country like India. Elections give citizens the power to choose their representatives, hold the government accountable, and ensure the peaceful transfer of power. The chapter also discusses the election process, including the preparation of voters' lists, nomination of candidates, election campaigns, and polling. The Election Commission of India plays a crucial role in ensuring that elections are free, fair, and transparent. However, challenges such as money power, criminal candidates, and electoral malpractices continue to pose threats to the electoral process, highlighting the need for reforms to make elections more democratic and just.