Certainly!

Here's the paragraph transformed into a concise format using “-” signs:

• Democracy – people don’t govern directly

• Representative democracy – most common form
• People elect representatives to rule
• Elections – free, fair, regular
• Citizens choose leaders
• Political parties – contest elections, play key role
• Majority party or alliance forms government
• Article 326 – universal adult franchise
• Citizens 18+ can vote

Here’s the precise transformation using “-” signs, keeping the meaning intact and brief, as you
requested:

• Elections essential in all governments except dictatorships

• Modern democracies – vast population, people participate through representatives
• Elections needed to choose representatives – basis of representative democracy
• Elections – method to replace unpopular government
• Fear of elections – keeps government accountable and working properly
• Elections – tool to control the executive
• No elections, no democracy – without elections, democracy can't exist
• Elections – people learn party policies and ideologies, understand social and
economic issues
• Elections – platform for political education and public participation
• People can contest, discuss, and debate policies and programmes

Here’s the transformed version using “-” signs, concise and based only on the text:

• Two kinds of elections – direct and indirect

• Direct election – voters elect representatives to legislature directly
• Indirect election – voters elect electors who elect legislature members
• MPs, MLAs, local body members – elected through direct elections
• Rajya Sabha, President, Vice-President, Vidhan Parishad – elected through indirect
elections

Here’s the transformed version of “Merits of Direct Election” using “-” signs:

• Most democratic – people directly take part in forming government

• Representatives – more accountable to public opinion
• Representatives – stay in touch with voters, improve their condition
• Stimulates political interest – voters feel their voice matters
• Encourages active citizenship
• Less exposed to corruption – large electorate hard to bribe or intimidate
Here’s the transformed version of “Demerits of Direct Election” using “-” signs:

• Power in hands of ignorant voters – many illiterate or lack judgment

• Voters misled by false promises – fall into trap of clever orators easily

Here’s the transformed version of “Merits of Indirect Election” using “-” signs:

• Free from popular passion – choice made by selected, thoughtful persons

• Selected electors – less swayed by political emotions
• Prevents dangers from haste – two-stage process allows correction of mistakes
• Time-gap between elections – cools passion, allows careful decision by electors

Here’s the transformed version of “Demerits of Indirect Election” using “-” signs:

• Considered anti-democratic – no direct contact between voters and representatives

• Kills popular interest – voters lose interest in public matters
• Smaller electorate – more prone to corruption and undue influence
• Sometimes mere formality – party system controls the outcome

Here’s the transformed version for General Elections using “-” signs:

• General Elections – regular elections every 5 years for Lok Sabha or State
Assemblies
• Sometimes held together – Parliamentary and State Assembly elections
• Until 1957 – held simultaneously
• Later held separately – due to early dissolutions and mid-term elections

Here’s the transformed version for Mid-Term Elections and By-Election using “-” signs:

• Mid-Term Elections – held before 5 years when legislature is dissolved

• Occur when govt. fails to prove majority
• New elections form new govt. with full 5-year term
• By-Election – held to fill vacancy due to resignation or death
• New member serves remaining term only

Here’s the transformed version using “-” signs, keeping it concise and faithful to the text:

• Country/state divided into electoral constituencies – called constituencies

• Constituency – fixed area with voters having voting rights
• Single-Member Constituency – one representative, winner represents area, exists in
India
• Multi-Member Constituency – more than one representative, does not exist in India
• Reserved Constituency – for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, only they can contest
• Reserved seats protect weaker sections from barriers in open competition
• Without reserved seats – weaker sections lack representation, democracy less inclusive
 • Constitution makers created reserved constituencies for inclusivity

Here’s the transformed version using “-” signs, strictly based on the text:

• Election Commission ensures free and fair elections in India

• Article 324 – Election Commission has superintendence, direction, control of
elections (Parliament, State Legislatures, President, Vice President)
• Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) Bill 2023
passed in December 2023
• Bill replaces Election Commission Act 1991
• CEC and ECs appointed by President on recommendation of Selection Committee
• Selection Committee includes Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Minister, Leader of
Opposition/largest opposition party in Lok Sabha
• Search Committee led by Cabinet Secretary proposes panel of names to Selection
Committee
• Eligibility – current/prior service equivalent to Secretary to Central Government
• Salary and service conditions of CEC and ECs equivalent to Cabinet Secretary
• Under 1991 Act, equivalent to Supreme Court judge
• Members hold office for 6 years or until 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
• Members cannot be reappointed
• If EC appointed as CEC, total term not more than 6 years
• Bill retains removal process of CEC and ECs as in Constitution
• CEC removable like Supreme Court judge
• ECs removable only on CEC’s recommendation
• Supreme Court ruled CEC and ECs appointed by committee: PM, Chief Justice of
India, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
• CEC and ECs Act 2003 overturns Supreme Court decision
• Superintend, direct, and control elections to Parliament and State Legislatures
• Conduct elections to President and Vice-President posts
• Lay down general rules for elections
• Determine constituencies and control preparation of electoral rolls
• Allot election symbols
• Recognise political parties
• Settle election-related disputes
• Conduct vote counting and declare results
• Postpone or countermand elections for specific reasons
• Preparation of Electoral Rolls: The Election Commission creates a voters list with
details like name, father’s name, age, and sex of eligible voters.
• Election Photo Identity Card: Ensures every voter has an equal chance to vote; no
one is denied their voting right.
• Delimitation of Constituencies: Divides areas into constituencies for organized
elections.
• Fixing Election Dates: The Commission schedules elections, can postpone them
to ensure fairness, even if political parties disagree.
 • Scrutiny of Nomination Papers: Checks and accepts or rejects candidates’
nominations; candidates must declare criminal cases, assets, liabilities, and
education publicly.
• Allotment of Election Symbols: National and state parties get permanent symbols;
independent candidates get symbols from a free list, helping voters recognize
parties easily.
• Holding Elections and Declaring Results: Voters must show ID; the Commission
sets up booths, appoints officers, and announces results.
• Nirvachan Sadan: Headquarters of Election Commission in New Delhi.
• Checking Undue Interference: Enforces Model Code of Conduct to stop ruling
party from misusing power during elections.

Here’s a concise summary of the election campaign process and rules:

• Election Campaign Duration: Usually lasts about two weeks between the
announcement of the final candidate list and the polling day.
• Campaign Activities: Candidates reach out to voters, political leaders hold rallies,
and parties mobilize supporters. The media extensively covers campaigns, debates,
and opinions.
• Purpose: Parties try to influence public opinion on key issues with slogans—like
"Garibi Hatao" by Congress in 1971 and "Save Democracy" by Janata Party in 1977.
• Election Laws: Enforced by the Election Commission to ensure fairness—
campaigners are prohibited from:
o Bribing or threatening voters
o Appealing to voters based on religion
o Using government resources for campaigning
o Exceeding the spending limits set by the Election Commission.