th
Class 9
Social Science
Civics | Electoral Politics
Crafted with love
By Digraj Singh Rajput
Civics |Electoral Politics
Electoral Politics
WHY ELECTIONS? → WHAT IS OUR SYSTEM OF ELECTIONS?
● Why are elections needed? ● Electoral constituencies
● What makes elections ● Reserved Constituencies
democratic? ● Voters’ list
● Is political competition beneficial? ● Nomination of Candidates
● Election Campaign
● Polling and Counting of Votes
WHAT MAKES ELECTIONS IN INDIA DEMOCRATIC?
● Independent Election Commission
● People's Participation
● Acceptance of election outcome
● Free and fair elections →Are they?
Civics |Electoral Politics
WHY ELECTIONS?
Haryana Congress Party VS Chaudhary Devi Lal 1991 Congress won Election
Led Govt Since 1982 Led movement(Nyaya Yudh) and again form the Govt
1987 elections won(60/90)Form Govt
● Who will make laws
Why do we need elections? Through elections, people decide ● Who will form the government
● Which party’s policies will guide Govt.
The democratic election needs ● Equal Voting Rights
What makes an election democratic?
some minimum conditions ● Real Choice of Candidates
● Regular Elections
● Candidate preferred by people wins
Is it good to have political competition? Political Competition Is ● Free and Fair Process
Core to Elections
Demerits Merits
● Causes local divisions & conflicts ("factionalism") ● Makes leaders accountable
● Negative tactics/"party politics." ● Reward” (re-elected) or “punishment” (loss of office)
● Discourages well-intentioned people entering ● Incentivized Leaders to serve the people to retain power
politics
Though imperfect, political competition ultimately pushes leaders and parties to meet public needs.
Civics |Electoral Politics
WHAT IS OUR SYSTEM OF ELECTIONS? Regular Elections 5 years →Dissolution of Assemblies→General Elections/By-elections
Electoral constituencies → Reserved Constituencies → Voters’ list
● Area based system of representation ● To ensure representation of Weaker ● Electoral Roll, lists of eligible voters, all
citizens aged 18 and above
● Equal Representation(Ensure equal sections (SC/ST/OBC/Women)
● Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC)→
populations to each constituency) ● LS→84 seats for SCs,47 seats for STs.
voter identification
● Lok Sabha→543 constituencies(MP) ● (OBCs) & women(One-third)→District,
● States Legislative Assembly(MLA) panchayat,& municipal levels.
● Local Body→Villages & towns(Wards)
Nomination of Candidates → Election Campaign → Election laws prevent parties from
● Bribing or threatening voters,
● Anyone eligible to contest elections (Min ● To allow open discussion on candidates, ● Appealing based on caste or religion
25y Age) parties, and policies. ● Using government resources,
● Political parties→Ticket&Party symbol. ● lasts two weeks before polling ● Exceeding spending limits (25L/LS
Mandatory Declarations ● Parties promote key issues to attract and 10L/Assemble) Elections.
● Pending serious criminal cases, votes→Garibi Hatao (Congress 1971) ( Code of Conduct )
● Assets and liabilities of themselves and Save Democracy(Janta Party 1977), Land
their family, to the Tiller(Left Front 1977 WB), Protect
● Educational qualifications. the self respect of the telugus.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What is an election held for only one constituency to fill the vacancy caused due to death or
resignation of a member called?
A. By-election
B. General election
C. Mid-term election
D. None of these
Civics |Electoral Politics
Model Code of Conduct(Parties agreed not to) → Polling and Counting of Votes
● Use places of worship for propaganda,
● Use government vehicles or officials, ● Voters cast votes at polling booths
● Make policy announcements or promises once ● Verified by officials.
elections are announced. ● Electronic voting machines (EVMs) are used for voting,
● Results counted and declared quickly.
WHAT MAKES ELECTIONS IN INDIA DEMOCRATIC?
Independent Election Commission Popular Participation
● Operates independently, much like judiciary ● Voter Turnout
● CEC appointed by President not answerable to ● Higher Voting by underprivileged Social Groups
the government ● Common People attach lot Importance to Elections.
Powers→ EC oversees elections, enforces Code of ● Increasing Voter Interest
Conduct, directs govt action, and supervises officials.
Acceptance of election outcome Challenges to free and fair elections
● Ruling Parties Often Lose ● Money & Power Imbalance,Criminal Influence
● Sitting Incumbents loses election ● Family Dominance in Politics
● Wealthy or Criminal Candidates Often Lose ● Limited Choice for Voters
● Defeated parties accept election outcomes ● Disadvantages for Smaller Parties and
as the people's verdict. independent candidates
Civics |Electoral Politics
Elections in India for Parliament and State Legislature are conducted by
A. Prime Minister
B. Election Commission of India
C. Chief Justice of India
D. None of these
Key Words
Civics |Electoral Politics
Legislative Assembly : A Legislative Assembly is a group of
Elections: Elections are when people vote to choose elected people who make laws and decisions for a specific
someone for a political position, like a leader or area, like a state or province. It’s similar to a parliament,
representative. but usually at a local level.
constituency: A constituency is a specific area or
region that is represented by a member or another MP (Member of Parliament): An MP is a person elected to
elected official. People living in that area vote for the Parliament, which makes laws and decisions for the
their representative, who will speak and make whole country.
decisions for them in a larger government, like a
parliament.
parliament : A parliament is a group of people who MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly): An MLA is a person
are chosen to make decisions and create laws for a elected to a State Legislative Assembly, which makes laws
[Link] vote for members of parliament to and decisions for a specific state or region within the
represent them and their ideas. country.
Key Words
Civics |Electoral Politics
Reserved Constituencies: In some elections, certain Election Campaign: An election campaign is when
areas are reserved for specific groups of people, like candidates try to persuade people to vote for
Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. Only candidates them. It’s an effort to influence voters' decisions.
from these groups can contest in these areas.
Code of Conduct : A code of conduct is a set of
rules that guides how people, parties, or
Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC): This is an ID card
organizations should behave, especially in
given by the Election Commission of India, which voters
politics.
use to prove their identity when voting in elections.
Rigging: Rigging is when someone cheats or
Nomination: Nominations are when candidates are manipulates the results of an election to get a
selected to run for an election or be considered for an specific outcome.
award. A shortlist is a smaller group of possible
candidates chosen from a larger list. Election Commission: The Election Commission is
a group that makes sure elections are fair and
follow the correct rules and procedures.
Security Deposit: Candidates have to pay a deposit to
stand in an election. If they don't get enough votes (less Voters turnout: The percentage of eligible voters
than one-sixth of the total), they lose the deposit. participating in elections is called the turnout
figure. It represents the number of eligible voters
who participate in the elections.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What is election?Why do we need elections?
An election is a process where people choose their leaders and representatives to make important decisions on
their behalf.
We need elections because:
● Representation: In a large community, it is not possible for everyone to make decisions directly. Elections
allow people to select representatives who will make decisions for them.
● Voice of the People: Elections give people the power to choose their leaders. It helps to know if the people
like their representatives or not, and if they don't, they can change them.
● Regular Checks: Elections are held regularly to ensure that representatives rule according to the people's
wishes and can be changed if needed.
● Choice: Through elections, voters can choose who will make laws, who will form the government, and
which party's policies will guide the decisions.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What are the minimum conditions for a democratic election?
● Everyone should be able to choose that everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal
value.
● Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
● The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held every few years.
● The candidates preferred by the people should get elected.
● Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner, where people can choose as they wish.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What are the merits and demerits of an electoral competition?
Merits:
● In an ideal world, all political leaders know what is good for the people and are motivated only by a desire
to serve them.
● Our constitution makers opted for free competition in elections as the way to select our future leaders,
because this system works better in the long run.
● Political leaders are motivated by a desire to advance in their political careers. They want to remain in
power or get power and position for themselves, for which, they can compete with other political parties.
Demerits:
● An electoral competition 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.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What are reserved constituencies, and why do we have them?
Some constituencies are reserved for weaker sections, like Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), to
make sure they have a chance to be elected.
In SC reserved constituencies, only people from the SC can run for election, and in ST constituencies, only people
from the ST can stand for election.
In the Lok Sabha, there are 84 seats reserved for SC and 47 for ST, based on their population proportion.
This system has been extended to include Other Backward Classes (OBC) at local levels like rural and urban areas,
and one-third of seats in local bodies are reserved for women.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What is a voters' list, and why is it important?
The voters' list, also called the Electoral Roll, is a list of people who are eligible to vote in an election. It is prepared
before the election and made available to everyone.
In India, all citizens aged 18 and above can vote, regardless of caste, religion, or gender. Some criminals or people
with mental health issues might be denied the right to vote in special cases.
The voters' list ensures that every eligible person has the opportunity to vote, giving everyone an equal say in
decisions that affect them.
The voters' list is updated regularly. New voters are added when they turn 18, and names are removed for people
who have moved or passed away. It is fully revised every five years.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What is an election campaign, and why is it important?
● An election campaign is a way for candidates and political parties to share their ideas and policies with the
public. This helps people decide who to vote for and which party will make a better government.
● In India, election campaigns usually last two weeks. During this time, candidates meet voters, political
leaders speak at rallies, and the media covers election news. But parties prepare months before the
campaign starts.
● Political parties often highlight important issues to attract voters. They use slogans to get attention, such as
"Garibi Hatao" (Remove Poverty) or "Save Democracy," to make promises about solving big problems.
● Election campaigns must follow certain rules to be fair. Parties and candidates cannot bribe voters, use
government resources, or spend too much money. There are also agreements like the Model Code of
Conduct to make sure elections are conducted fairly.
Civics |Electoral Politics
How are elections held in India?
Elections in India are held through the following process:
● Regular Elections: Lok Sabha (Parliament) and Vidhan Sabha (State Assembly) elections are held every five
years.
● Dissolution of Assemblies: After five years, the term of all elected representatives ends, and the Lok Sabha
or Vidhan Sabha is dissolved.
● General Elections: Elections are conducted in all constituencies at the same time, either on the same day or
within a few days.
● By-elections: If a vacancy occurs due to death or resignation, a by-election is held for that particular
constituency.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What is Election Commission of India? Who appoints the Chief Election
Commissioner? What is its role in the elections?
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election
process in India. The Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by the President of India.
The Election Commission monitor the election in the following ways:
● It takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections
to the declaration of the results.
● It implements code of conduct and punishes the candidate or party that violates it.
● During election period, the Election Commission can order the government to follow some guidelines, to
prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win the elections, or to transfer
some government officials.
● When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the Election Commission and not the
government.
Civics |Electoral Politics
How can we check the quality of the election process?
The quality of an election process can be checked in three ways:
● Who conducts the Election: Indian elections are conducted by an independent Election Commission, which
has the power to even reprimand the government and the administration for their lapses.
● Popular Participation: If the election process is not free and fair, people do not participate in the electoral
process. So, the turn-out of the election is also a way to check the quality of the election process.
● Acceptance of the outcome: If the election is not free and fair, the outcome always favour the powerful and
the losing party does not accept the outcome. So, to assess the quality of election process, one can check
the response of the losing party.
Civics |Electoral Politics
What are the challenges to free and fair elections in India?
The challenges to free and fair elections in India include:
● Money Power: Candidates and parties with a lot of money have an unfair advantage over smaller parties
and independent candidates, even though they may not always win.
● Criminal Connections: In some areas, candidates with criminal backgrounds can push others out of the race
and secure nominations from major parties.
● Dynastic(Relatives) Politics: Some political families dominate parties, giving tickets to their relatives rather
than choosing based on merit.
● Limited Choice for Voters: Voters often face limited choices, as major parties tend to have similar policies
and practices.
● Disadvantage for Smaller Parties: Smaller parties and independent candidates struggle to compete with the
larger, more powerful parties.
Team -
Join our telegram channel Connect with us on Instagram
DSR Digraj_Singh_Rajput
Digraj Singh Rajput
Next Toppers
The Social Brains
The Social Brains - CUET
Please the channels
For Upcoming sessions
