The Electoral process
Election commission
What is representative democracy?
• In a democracy it is not possible for the entire
population to be involved in the decision
making hence the citizens elect representatives
to run the country through elections.
• Different political parties get an opportunity to
rule and make policies.
Election commission
• Process: Article 324, autonomous body.
• Officers: One Chief election commissioner
and two other commissioners.
• First chief election commissioner: Sukumar
Sen.
• Appointment: by the President and cannot be
removed from this post easily or on account of
any political reasons.
• Expenses: separate provisions made.
• Staff: not separate, the government officers,
teachers and other employees help in the process
of elections.
Note cards
Table of content
Board: I.C.S.E.
Grade/std: 9
th
Name of the chapter: Elections
Reference book/s: Total History and
Civics- Morning Star-Std.9
h
.
• The Electoral Process
• Election commission
• Functions of the Election commission
• Process of elections
• Challenges in conducting free and fair
elections
• Electoral Reforms
• Journey from Ballot box to EVM
• Important facts
Functions of the Election Commission
Functions of the Election Commission
1. Preparation of the voter's list:
• Election commission issues identity cards to
voters above the age of 18 years.
• The name has appeared on the voting list which
is the eligible, existing and new voters.
2. Decide the time-table and the program of
elections:
• Decides when to conduct the elections and in
how many stages.
3. Scrutiny of the applications of the candidates:
• Every candidate must fill an application form and
only after scrutiny, allows the eligible candidates
to contest.
Process of Elections
1. Misuse of money taken during elections; the
commission has taken many measures to stop
such misuse.
2. Criminalization of politics: political parties
give election tickets to candidates from
criminal background. The commission faces
problems in conducting free and fair elections.
3. Violence during elections increases and
political parties should help the commission to
stop it.
4. Family monopoly in politics is another
hindrance.
Challenges in conducting free and
fair elections
1. Establishment of constituencies
2. Finalizing voter’s list
3. Nomination of candidates and scrutiny of their
nomination forms.
4. Election Campaign
5. Actual Counting
6. Counting of votes
7. Results of elections
8. Resolution of disputes regarding elections
• First elections: 1951-52 where ballot boxes
were used.
• EVM’s started in 1990’s which had
advantages like:
- Candidates could choose “none of the above”
(NOTA)
- Easier for disabled people (Divyanga) to vote.
- Better for the environment.
- Early declaration of results as the votes don’t
have to counted manually.
Electoral reforms
Journey from ballot boxes to EVM
machines
1. To increase participation: women should be
given 50% candidature in the political parties
to improve elections.
2. Not give candidature to people with criminal
background.
3. Government should take care of election
expenses to ensure that parties will not misuse
and mismanagement of money.
4. Representation of the People’s Act: should
be amended so that the people having criminal
background would not be able to participate in
elections.
1. Voter’s Verified Paper Audit Trial was
added in the EVM machines which helps the
voters to verify whether the cast vote is
registered properly.
2. General elections: held every 5 years.
3. Mid- term elections: if the ruling party loses it
majority or in case of coalition if it withdraws
support, then elections are called midterm
elections.
4. By-elections: elections held in case of a death
of elected representatives in the Lok Vidhan
Sabha or local self-government then it is called
by-elections.
Important facts
NOTES
NOTES