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People’s participation in elections is usually measured by Voter Turnout figures. Turnout indicates the percent of eligible voters who actually cast their vote. Over the last 50 years, the turnout in Europe and North America has declined. In India the turnout has either remained stable or actually gone up. 

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. 

(i) Candidates contact their voters 

(ii) They address election meetings

(iii) Use newspapers and TV for publicity

The Election Commission 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, he is not answerable to the President or the government. Even if the ruling party or the government does not like what the Commission does, it is virtually impossible for it to remove the CEC.

1. It takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of election.

2. It implements code of conduct. It orders guidelines for the government to prevent misuse of power to win elections.

3. If EC feels unfairness in polling it orders a re-poll.

EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results. 

It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it. 

During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to prevent transfer of government officials. 

When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the govt. 

Nomination of Candidates 

Election Campaign 

Polling and Counting of Votes 

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. But the card is not yet compulsory for voting. 

All the citizens aged 18 years and above, regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender can vote in an election. It is known as Universal Adult Franchise. 

It is adopted in India due to the following reasons: Different citizens in India differ from one another in many ways; some are rich some are poor; some are highly educated and some are literate; some are kind others are not so. But all of them are human beings with their own needs and views. All of them deserve to have equal say in decisions that affect them. 

All the citizens aged 18 years and above, regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender can vote in an election. It is known as Universal Adult Franchise. 

It is adopted in India due to the following reasons: Different citizens in India differ from one another in many ways; some are rich some are poor; some are highly educated and some are literate; some are kind others are not so. But all of them are human beings with their own needs and views. All of them deserve to have equal say in decisions that affect them. 

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

An election manifesto is a statement by a political party explaining its policies, saying what they will do if they win the election.

 The main purpose of election is to give people a chance to choose the representatives, the government and the policies they prefer. 

In our country such campaigns take place for a two-week period between the announcement of the final list of candidates and the date of polling. During this period the candidates contact their voters, political leaders address election meetings and political parties mobilize their supporters. 

In election campaigns, political parties try to focus public attention on some big issues. They want to attract the public to that issue and get them to vote for their party on that basis. 

U.P. (Uttar Pradesh)

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. E. Parliament election or Assembly election. 

(i) To make the rule of the people elections are necessary. In most democracies people rule through representatives. To choose the representatives we need election 

(ii) To find out if people like their representatives or not elections are required to elect or not to elect. 

(iii) To ensure that these representatives rule as per the wishes of people elections are required. 

(iv) To make sure that those who the people don’t like do not remain in power elections are required

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. 

The outcome of India’s elections speaks for itself: 

The ruling parties routinely lose elections in India both at the national and state level. In fact in every two out of the three elections held in the last fifteen years, the ruling party lost. It proves that unfair practices are not used by the ruling parties.

In the US, an incumbent or ‘sitting’ elected representative rarely loses an election. In India about half of the sitting MPs or MLAs lose elections.

Candidates who are known to have spent a lot of money on ‘buying votes’ and those with known criminal connections often lose elections. 

Except a very few disputed elections, the electoral outcomes are usually accepted as ‘people’s verdict’ by the defeated party. 

(i) An independent Election Commission 

(ii) Universal Adult Franchise 

(iii) Popular Participation 

(iv) Acceptance of election results. 

First, everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value. 

Second, there should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters. 

Third, the choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every few years. 

Fourth, the candidate preferred by the people should get elected. 

Fifth, elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really wish.

In a reserved constituency, only someone who belongs to the SC/ST or weaker section can stand for election. This was done to give a fair representation to the weaker section who did not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha.

Election Commission

In our country we follow an area based system of representation. The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies. In a constituency only one candidate will be elected during election. For Lok Sabha election the country is divided into 543 constituencies. The representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament. ( MP) 

(i) Every section of citizens should get equal representation.

(ii) Everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives.

(iii) Voters' list which is revised every five year.

(iv) Election Photo-Identity Card.

‘‘Save Democracy’’ slogan was given by Janata Party in 1977.

Some of the demerits of electoral competition in India are : 

1. It creates a sense of disunity and 'factionalism' in every locality. 

2. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. 

3. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections. 

4. Some people say that this pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long-term policies to be formulated.

5. Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this arena as they do not like the idea of being dragged into unhealthy competition.

An electoral competition has many demerits.

(i) It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism.

(ii) Different political parties level allegations against each other’s.

(iii) Long-term policies cannot be formulated.

(iv) Some good people who wish to serve do not enter this arena.

 If there is no competition, elections will become pointless. 

Regular electoral competition provides incentives to political parties and leaders. They know that if they raise issues that people want to be raised, their popularity and chances of victory will increase in the next elections. But if they fail to satisfy the voters with their work they will not be able to win again. Thus it motivate them to do good things. 

Political competition enlighten people about election and democratic principles and during their competition people can identify the party that they should choose. 

Election Commission

(i) One way is to try and improve the knowledge and character of political leaders. 

(ii) The other and the more realistic way is to set up a system where political leaders are rewarded for serving the people and punished for not doing so. 

 An electoral competition has many demerits. It creates a sense of disunity and ‘factionalism’ in every locality. 

Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. 

Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections. 

Some people say that the pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long-term policies to be formulated. 

Some good people who may wish to serve the country do not enter this arena. They do not like the idea of being dragged into unhealthy competition. 

Appointed by the President

1. For elections, the country is divided into different areas called ‘electoral constituencies’.

2. The voters who live in an area elect one representative.

3. For Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into 543 constituencies.

4. The representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament (MP).

Similarly, each state is divided into Assembly constituencies. In this case, the elected representative is called the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA).

No party or candidate can bribe or threaten voters; 

No party or candidate can appeal votes n the name of caste or religion; 

No party or candidate can use government resources for election campaign; and 

No party or candidate can spend more than Rs. 25 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or Rs. 10 lakh in a constituency in an Assembly election.  

Chaudhary Devi Lal

The Congress party led by Indira Gandhi gave the slogan of Garibi Hatao (Remove poverty) in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. The party promised to reorient all the policies of the government to remove poverty from the country. 

Save Democracy was the slogan given by Janata Party in the next Lok Sabha election held in 1977. The party promised to undo the excesses committed during Emergency and restore civil liberties. 

The Left Front used the slogan of Land to the Tiller in the West Bengal Assembly elections held in 1977. 

‘Protect the Self-Respect of the Telugus’ was the slogan used by N. T. Rama Rao, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983. 

Election Commission

General Elections

543 constituencies are the country divided for Lok Sabha elections.

Code of Conduct

An ordinary citizen would have to face some of the following challenges if he wants to contest the elections:

(i) Candidates with lot of money enjoy a big and unfair advantage over contestants.

(ii) Sometimes candidates with criminal connections push others out of the electoral race and secure a ‘ticket’.

(iii) Some families tend to dominate political parties.

25 years is the minimum age required to contest an election to Lok Sabha.

1. The constitution 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.

2. 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.