ELECTORAL POLITICS

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Electoral
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Election PROCESS Reserved

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Electora
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STEP 1: FORMATION OF ELECTORAL CONSTITUENCY

⚫ It is a geographical area designed for election where voters elect their representatives.
⚫ India is divided into 543 constituencies for Lok Sabha elections. Each constituency elects
one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the national parliament.
⚫ Each state in India is divided into a specific number of Assembly constituencies. Bihar
has total 40 parliamentary constituency.
STEP 2: RESERVED CONSTITUENCY
⚫ In India, reserved constituencies are specific electoral areas set aside to ensure
representation for marginalized communities.
⚫ In the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament), 84 seats are reserved for candidates from
Scheduled Castes (SC), and 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Only
candidates belonging to the respective Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community
can contest elections from these reserved constituencies.
⚫ Apart from this 1/3rd seats are reserved for women in local level (Panchayat/Municipality)
election.
NEED OF RESERVED CONSTITUENCY
⚫ Ensure political equality.
⚫ Create an equitable platform for marginlised communities.
⚫ Provide social justice.

STEP 3: VOTER LIST/ELECTORAL ROLL AND VOTER ID CARD

It's prepared well in advance of the election and contains the names of all eligible voters. This list
ensures that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to vote. While it's the government's
responsibility to compile this list, voters are required to carry a valid identification like the
Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) when casting their votes. The EPIC helps prevent fraudulent
voting, although other identity proofs such as ration cards or driving licenses are also acceptable
for voting in India.
NEED OF UPDATAION OF VOTER LIST
⚫ It ensures all the genuine voters whose age is above !8 are able to give vote
⚫ It remove the name of deceased person from voter list.
⚫ .It reduce the chance of false voting.
STEP 4: NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES
Eligibility of nominated candidates:
⚫ Candidates minimum age should be 25 years old.
⚫ No criminal case pending against him.
⚫ Candidate should be mentally sound.
Procedure of Nomination:
⚫ Submit nomination paper.
⚫ Submit declaration that no criminal case pending against him.
⚫ Declaration of family assets and liability and education qualification.
⚫ This declaration make transparency in voting process and allows voters to take informed
decisions.
STEP 5: ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Election campaigns in India are crucial periods for candidates and political parties to communicate
their policies and appeal to voters.
Duration of Campaign: 2 weeks between announcement of the final list of candidates and date of
polling.
Need of Campaign:
⚫ Win the trust of the voters.
⚫ Provide an opportunity to the voters to know about political parties, their policies and
agendas.
⚫ Make a direct contact with the voters and know about their problems and expectation.
Method of Election Campaign:
⚫ Publish election manifesto.
⚫ Public meeting and rallies.
⚫ Door to door canvassing
⚫ Road show.
Model Code of Conduct:
It is a set of guidelines issued by Election Commission for candidates and political parties during
election.
The guidelines are:
According to this political parties are not allowed to:
⚫ Use any religious place.
⚫ Use Government vehicle, artifacts and officials.
⚫ Once election date is announced ministers shall not lay foundation of any project.
⚫ Political party or candidates can’t bribe the voters.
⚫ The maximum amount of expenditure allowed by Election Commission to the contestant for
the parliament and Legislative Assembly Election should not exceed 25 lakhs and 10 lakhs in
each constituency.
STEP 6: POLLING AND DECLARATION OF RESULT
⚫ Elections are done by EVM Machine.
⚫ A few days after polling, all the Electronic Voting Machines are opened and votes secured by
each candidates are counted.
⚫ In General Election. The counting of vote in all constituencies takes place on same date.
⚫ Television channels, radio, newspapers report the event. Within few hours of counting results
are declared and majority political party form the Government.

COMMON UNFAIR PRACCTIONTICES DURING ELECTION

⚫ Inclusion of false name and exclusion of genuine name from voter list.
⚫ Misuse of Government facilities and Government officials by ruling party.
⚫ Excessive use of money by rich candidates.
⚫ False voting and rigging on the day of polling.
⚫ False allegation against the leaders of opposition party.

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

⚫ The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body that is empowered to conduct free
and fair election.

⚫ It is headed by a chief election commissioner and consists of other two election

commissioners.

⚫ They are appointed by President of India for 6 years term.

Power of Election Commission:

⚫ ECI organises and supervises the election including election schedule.

⚫ The ECI recognises political parties and assigns symbols.
⚫ It ensures model code of conduct.
⚫ It prepares electoral roll.
⚫ The ECI monitors election process and prevents malpractices.
⚫ It resolves dispute related to election among Political parties.
 WHY DO WE NEED ELECTION

Choose elected Government Policy Direction:

represetative: Formation: Voters Voters select political
Voters can choose decide which political parties whose policies
individual who party or coalition will influence government
make laws. form Government.

WHAT MAKES AN ELECTION DEMOCRATIC

UNIVERSAL POLITICAL REGULAR MAJORITY

ADULT FREEDOM: ELECTION: RULE: The
FRANCHISE: Parties should have Election should be candidate with
Every citizen freedom to done at regular majority vote
should have choose participate election interval. should be elected.
their wothout restriction.
representatives.

FREE AND FAIR PROCESS

OF ELECTION: Election
must be conducted in a
transparent,
impartial,inclusive
manner.

IS IT GOOD TO HAVE ELECTORAL COMPRTITION?

INCENTIVE FOR
GOOD ACCOUNTABILITY SERVICE ORIENTATION:
PERFOMANCE: : Political party leaders Electoral competition compels
Regular electoral realise their ability to the party leaders to focus on
competition inspire remain in power serving electorate. They
political leaders to depends on their demonstrate their
perform well and perfomance to effectiveness and
motivate them to electorate. responsiveness to gain support
address public needs.