Comprehensive Study Guide for Class 9th: Chapter 7 - Elections

Meaning and Importance of Elections in a Democracy

• Elections are a democratic process through which citizens select their representatives by casting votes.

• This practice is not a modern development in India; the tradition of collective decision-making within families and communities has existed since ancient times.

• Elections serve as the only widely accepted method for selecting representatives in a democratic system.

• Through voting, citizens choose:

  • The political party responsible for creating policies and guiding government law-making.

  • The individuals who will draft and pass laws.

  • The representatives who will form the government and make significant administrative decisions.

• Elections provide accountability, legitimacy, representation, and ensure equality through equal voting rights.

The Electoral System in India

• India conducts regular elections at multiple levels, including the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabhas), Legislative Councils (Vidhan Parishad), and for the offices of the President and Vice-President.

• There are three primary types of electoral systems recognized in comparative studies:

  • First-Past-the-Post (FPTP): Also known as the plurality system. The candidate who secures the highest number of votes in a constituency is declared the winner, even if they do not achieve more than $50\%$ of the total votes. India utilizes this for direct elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

  • Proportional Representation (PR): India uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV) method for indirect elections (President, Vice-President, Rajya Sabha, and Legislative Councils). This system reduces vote wastage and ensures representation reflects the relative strength of groups or the federal balance. It allows voters to indicate multiple preferences.

  • Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMPR): A system discussed in academic reform debates that combines features of both FPTP and PR. In this model, some representatives are elected from single-member constituencies via FPTP.

Legislative Framework Governing Elections

• Several laws have been enacted since $1950$ to regulate the conduct and functioning of the electoral process.

• The Representation of the People Act, 1950:

  • Enacted to fulfill Articles $81$ and $170$ of the Constitution, which set maximum seats for Parliament and Legislative Assemblies.

  • It provides for the allocation of seats in the House of the People, Legislative Assemblies, and Legislative Councils.

  • It covers the preparation and revision of electoral rolls and voter eligibility.

• The Representation of the People Act, 1951:

  • Provides detailed provisions for the actual conduct of elections.

  • It covers qualifications and disqualifications for membership, the issuance of election notifications, administrative machinery, registration of political parties, and voting procedures.

  • It defines electoral disputes and corrupt practices, such as bribery, using religious/caste appeals, or utilizing government personnel for campaigns.

• The Delimitation Act, 2002: Focuses on redrawing the boundaries of territorial constituencies.

The Delimitation Commission

• Delimitation involves redrawing or fixing the boundaries of territorial constituencies based on population shifts to ensure equal representation.

• This work is performed by an independent, high-power body known as the Delimitation Commission.

• The Commission's actions have the force of law and cannot be challenged in any court.

• Decisions take effect on a date specified by the President of India.

• In India, Delimitation Commissions have been established four times: $1952$, $1963$, $1973$, and $2002$.

• The principle of "one vote, one value" is central to this process, ensuring each vote carries roughly the same weight across constituencies.

The Election Commission of India (ECI)

• The ECI is an independent, permanent constitutional body established on $25$ January $1950$. This date is celebrated annually as National Voters' Day.

• It operates under Article 324 of the Constitution and is headquartered in New Delhi.

• Structure and Tenure:

  • It is a three-member body consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.

  • They are appointed by the President and serve a tenure of $6$ years or until reaching the age of $65$, whichever comes first.

• Core Functions:

  • Conduct of Elections: Supervises and controls elections for Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.

  • Electoral Rolls: Prepares and updates voter lists through continuous revision and Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

  • Registration of Parties: Recognizes political parties and allots unique election symbols.

  • Voter Education: Promotes awareness via the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme.

  • Monitoring Expenditure: Audits election spending and uses monitoring teams to ensure transparency.

  • Scheduling: Decides election dates based on factors like weather, festivals, and academic exams.

Constituencies, Electoral Rolls, and Enumerators

• Constituency: A fixed geographical area from which voters elect a representative. The country is divided into Parliamentary constituencies (for Lok Sabha) and Assembly constituencies (for Vidhan Sabha).

• Electoral Roll: Also known as the voters' list, this is the official register of eligible citizens in a constituency. Only individuals named on this list may vote.

• Enumerator: A trained professional who collects and verifies data directly from households for the voter list.

  • Role of the Enumerator:

    • Receives training from election authorities.

    • Conducts door-to-door surveys to update details (name, age, address).

    • Verifies information against documents and records it in digital or physical forms.

    • Submits verified data to the election office to ensure the roll remains accurate.

The Party System and Recognition Criteria

• India follows a multi-party system that reflects its cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity.

• Key phases include a period of one-party dominance followed by a shift toward coalition governments after $1989$.

• National Party Recognition (ECI 2019 Handbook): A party is recognized as a National Party if it meets any one of these criteria:

  • Recognition as a State Party in $4$ or more states.

  • Securing at least $6\%$ of total valid votes in $4$ or more states in the latest Lok Sabha/Assembly elections and having at least $4$ MPs in the most recent Lok Sabha.

  • Winning at least $2\%$ of total Lok Sabha seats from at least $3$ states.

  • Current National Parties include: BJP, INC, AAP, BSP, CPIM, and NPP.

• State Party Recognition: A party must meet any one of these criteria:

  • Secure $6\%$ of valid votes in the last Assembly election and have at least $2$ MLAs.

  • Secure $6\%$ of valid votes in the last Lok Sabha elections in that state and have at least $1$ MP from that state.

  • Win at least $3\%$ of the total number of seats or $3$ seats (whichever is higher) in the last Assembly election.

  • Have at least $1$ MP for every $25$ members allotted to the state in the Lok Sabha.

  • Win at least $8\%$ of total valid votes in the last Assembly or Lok Sabha election in that state.

• Other Categories: Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP) are registered but do not meet performance criteria for recognition.

The Anti-Defection Law

• Defection is the act of switching political allegiance or joining another party after being elected.

• The law was added to the Constitution via the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985, and is contained within the Tenth Schedule.

• Evolution:

  • In $1967$, Haryana MLA Gaya Lal changed parties three times in a single day, leading to the phrase "Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram."

  • Frequent party-switching caused the collapse of several state governments, leading to the formation of the Chavan Committee under Home Minister Y. B. Chavan.

  • The committee recommended disqualifying legislators who switched parties for gain.

  • The law was finally enacted during Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's tenure to ensure political stability.

Digital Tools and Inclusive Initiatives

• cVIGIL: Allows citizens to report Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations instantly.

• Suvidha: Used by candidates for rally permissions and nomination management.

• Voter Helpline App: For voter registration and verification.

• Saksham App: Provides specialized services for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

• ETPBS: Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System for service voters.

• ERONET: Focused on electoral roll management.

• Sugam: For vehicle management.

• Inclusive Voting: ECI provides wheelchairs, Braille-enabled EVMs, and home voting for senior citizens (over $85$ years) and PwDs with $\ge 40\%$ benchmark disability.

Challenges to Free and Fair Elections

• Key roadblocks include misinformation, fake news, intimidation, and the power of money.

• Misuse of social media and electoral malpractices are ongoing concerns.

• Safeguards:

  • Model Code of Conduct (MCC): Guidelines for parties and candidates.

  • EVM (Electronic Voting Machine): Used for recording votes.

  • VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail): Provides a physical verification of the electronic vote.

Review and Discussion

• Questions and Assertions:

  • What is the minimum voting age? The minimum age is $18$ years.

  • Which Act deals with electoral rolls? The Representation of the People Act, 1950.

  • What is a coalition government? It is formed when no single party wins a majority, and multiple parties team up to run the state or country.

  • Match MP and MLA roles: MPs are elected to the Lok Sabha; MLAs are elected to the State Legislative Assembly.

  • Assertion - Constituencies and population: Constituencies are designed with roughly equal populations to maintain "one vote, one value."

• Short Answer Insights:

  • Reserved Constituencies: These are meant for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to ensure fair representation for historically disadvantaged groups.

  • Need for Political Parties: Without parties, candidates would be independent. No one could make national policy promises, forming a stable government would be nearly impossible, and collective accountability would vanish.