Notes-Class 10-Political Science-Chapter-2-The Electoral Process-Maharashtra Board

The Electoral Process

Class 10-Political Science-Chapter-2- Maharashtra Board

Notes

Elections :

Importance of Elections :

  • Election is a medium to elect representatives.
  • Election brings change in power through peaceful means.
  • Different political parties get a chance to rule.
  • Due to elections, changes are seen in government policies.
  • Society undergoes many types of changes. Democracy is sustained.

Representative Democracy :

  • It is impossible for all the people to participate in everyday administration and decision-making process.
  • And so, the people elect their representatives. Some people get elected on behalf of entire population as representatives.
  • The representatives who form the government are efficient, responsible to the people and give preference to the welfare of the people.

This is known as Representative Democracy.

Election Commission : One of the most important features of a democratic nation is elections at regular intervals. Holding free and fair elections at regular intervals is essential for a democratic system.

  • Under the Article 324 of the Constitution, Election Commission is an independent, autonomous body. The Election Commission was established in 1950
  • The Election Commission of India and the State Level Election Commission conduct all important elections in the country.
  • .The responsibility of conducting, managing and supervising the election procedure lies with the Election Commission.
  • The National Election Commission conducts elections for the offices of President, Vice-President, and administrates elections to Parliament and State legislatures.
  • A state election commission is also formed for conducting elections to local self-government institutions.

Election Commissioner :

Election Commissioner :

  • The Election Commission consists of one Chief Election Commissioner and two additional commissioners.
  • All the commissioners are appointed by the President of India.
  • A commissioner cannot be removed easily from his office for any political or trivial reasons.
  • The Constitution has preserved the independence of the Election Commission.
  • A separate provision is made for the expenses of Election Commission.
  • As the Election Commission does not have a separate staff, government officers, teachers and government employees help them to execute the process of election.
  • Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner after independence.

[collapse]

Process of election :

  • Establishment of constituencies
  • Finalising voters’ list
  • Nomination of candidates and scrutiny of their nomination forms
  • Election campaign
  • Actual voting
  • Counting of votes
  • Result of elections
  • Resolving disputes regarding elections.

Functions of Election Commission :

Functions of Election Commission :

Voter list :

  • Prepare list of eligible voters
  • Include names of new voters
  • Delete the names of voters who died or the ones who migrated.
  • Publish updated voters list
  • Give photo identity cards to the voters.

Election Schedule :

  • Decide timetable and programme of elections
  • Prepare and publish election schedule.
  • Decide the entire process, i.e. when and in how many stages election should be conducted.

Candidates :

  • Accept the application of candidates.
  • Scrutinize the applications.
  • Give permission to contest elections for eligible candidates and reject applications of disqualified candidates.

Political Parties :

  • As India has multi-party system, Election Commission gives recognition to the new political parties. |
  • To allot election symbols to political parties.

Election Disputes :

  • The Election Commission resolves all the disputes which arise during elections.
  • To disqualify the candidates if he resorts to illegal means of contesting.
  • To conduct re-election in a particular constituency.

Constituencies :

  • Constituencies are framed in proportion to the population.
  • There are total 543 constituencies of Lok Sabha.
  • Delimitation Commission restructures the constituencies.

[collapse]

Code of Conduct :

  • The code of conduct means the rules that are to be followed by the government, political parties and voters before and during election.
  • It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to conduct free and fair elections in a conducive environment.
  • To curb the malpractices during elections, a Model Code of Conduct is issued.
  • Its strict implementation gives a sense of relief to the common man.
  • Code of Conduct is applied for Government, political parties, candidates and voters before and during elections.
  • Even the Government cannot break these rules.

Challenges to conduct free and fair elections :

Challenges to conduct free and fair elections :

  • Large geographical landscape and larger population, i.e. number of voters is a huge challenge while conducting election.
  • Misuse of money.
  • Prohibiting candidates with criminal background from contesting.
  • Violence which erupts during election.
  • The practice of family monopoly poses a great challenge.

[collapse]

Electoral reforms :

  • To maintain the future and credibility of democracy, it is necessary to bring about new improvements.
  • It is necessary to rectify the shortcomings and faults in the election process.

Improvements required :

Improvements required :

To increase the credibility of elections the following measures should be taken :

  • To increase the participation of women in politics, 50% seats should be given to women candidates by every political party.
  • Election ticket should not be given to the candidates with criminal background.
  • To stop misuse of money, the government should take care of election expenses.
  • Laws and regulations should be followed strictly by the parties before giving candidature.
  • To amend the Representation of the Peoples Act.

[collapse]

Types of Elections :

(1) General elections, i.e. for Lok Sabha are held every five years.

(2) If the government loses majority in Parliament before completing its tenure or the parties in coalition with the government withdraw their support and no alternative is available, then mid-terms elections are held.

(3) If an elected member in the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha resigns or dies, then by-elections are held.

Reorganising the constituencies :

  • The Election Commission of India formed constituencies for Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly.
  • The Election Commission had decided upon the constituencies before the first election. As the years passed, there was a lot of migration of the people for business and other activities from the villages to cities.
  • This changed the demography to large extent. Number of voters in some constituencies reduced while in some it increased to a very great extent. This disturbed the ratio of seats allotted as compared to population in those constituencies.
  • Hence, the need to readjust the constituencies arose. The Delimitation Commission of the election commission does the work of reorganising or restructuring of constituencies.

Recognition to Political Parties :

  • India has a multi-party system with recognition accorded to national, state and regional level parties by the Election Commission.
  • Their recognition depends on the voting percentage received by them in the assembly

Role of Political Parties and their candidates :

Role of Political Parties and their candidates :

  • Decide the candidates and give them election tickets.
  • Submit nomination forms to the Election Commission within the stipulated time.
  • Inform the commission about election expenditure.
  • Follow Code of Conduct.
  • Conduct election campaign.

[collapse]

Role of Voters :

Role of Voters :

  • Follow Code of Conduct.
  • Attend party rally and decide for whom to vote.
  • Cast vote.

[collapse]

Q. Why Voting is our duty as well as responsibility ?

Answer

Because,

  • It is enshrined in the fundamental principles of our Constitution to vote.
  • It is not only our duty but also responsibility.
  • Democracy exists because of elections.
  • People should elect honest and efficient representatives through election.
  • If voters show no interest in voting then the government will ignore people's welfare.
  • Hence it is not only the duty of every citizen to vote but also his responsibility.

Journey from Ballot box to EVM machine :

  • From the first election in 1951-52 till 1999, elections were held using ballot box. Twenty lakh ballot boxes were used in the first election.
  • Voters used to cast his or her vote by stamping in front of the candidate's name and put them in the metal boxes.
  • Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were first used for 5 seats in Rajasthan, 5 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 6 seats in New Delhi 1998 in Legislative Assembly.
  • EVM machines were used at all polling booths in the general elections held in 2004. It proved to be a very useful device.
  • It has been improvised since its first use.
  • Due to the use of EVMs the results are declared early and at a very fast rate.

Advantages of EVM :

Advantages of EVM :

  • It saves tonnes of paper used to make ballot paper.
  • So, it conserves the environment as it stops the reckless cutting of trees required to make paper.
  • If the voter does not wish to cast his vote in favour of any candidate contesting, he can make use of NOTA (None Of The Above).
  • It makes counting of the votes much faster which enables the election officer to declare result in a short time.
  • It is helpful for disabled (Divyanga) people to cast vote.

[collapse]

Q. Why Some constituencies are reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Answer

 Because,

  • People of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are scattered in different parts, therefore it is very difficult for them to get representation.
  • Without a representative it is difficult to discuss their problems in Parliament.
  • Lack of representative will hinder their progress.
  • Hence some constituencies are reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Q. Why every political party has an election symbol?

Answer

 Because,

  • After independence for many years literacy rate was quite low in India.
  • It was not possible for the majority of voters to read the name of the candidate and vote.
  • Therefore, the Election Commission gave symbols to political parties and independent candidates which helped the voters to identity and decide whom to vote for.


Useful links :

Main Page : - Maharashtra Board Class 10 - History & Political Science  - All chapters notes, solutions, videos, test, pdf.
Books :  MSBSHSE -Class 10th Political Science Text Books – Chapter wise  PDF for download 

Previous Chapter : Chapter 1 -Working of the Constitution - Online Notes

Next Chapter : Chapter 3 - Political Parties - Online Notes

 

Leave a Reply

Leave you Replay.... Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *