Chapter 3: Election and Representation

What is an election?
An election is a formal process through which people choose their representatives to form a government and make decisions on their behalf.

Why are elections important in a democracy?
Elections ensure people’s participation, legitimacy of the government, accountability, and peaceful transfer of power in a democracy.

What is universal adult franchise?
It means every citizen aged 18 or above has the right to vote, regardless of caste, gender, religion, or wealth.

What is representation?
Representation is the process by which elected leaders act on behalf of the people in decision-making and governance.

What is the Election Commission of India?
It is an autonomous constitutional authority that conducts free and fair elections to Parliament, State Assemblies, and the offices of President and Vice-President.

What is the composition of the Election Commission?
It consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners appointed by the President of India.

What is a constituency?
A constituency is a geographically defined area whose eligible voters elect one representative to a legislative body.

What is the difference between a general and by-election?
General elections are held regularly after a term ends; by-elections are held when a seat becomes vacant before the term ends.

What is the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system?
In FPTP, the candidate who gets the most votes in a constituency wins, even if they don’t get a majority (50%+).

What is Proportional Representation (PR)?
In PR, parties win seats in proportion to the total votes they receive. It’s often used in multi-member constituencies.

Which election system does India use?
India uses FPTP for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, and PR (with single transferable vote) for Rajya Sabha and Presidential elections.

What are the advantages of FPTP?
It is simple, cost-effective, provides clear winners, and ensures stable governments.

What are the disadvantages of FPTP?
It may not represent minority views accurately and sometimes a party with less than 50% votes can form government.

What are reserved constituencies?
Certain constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to ensure their political representation.

How are reserved seats decided?
Based on the population of SC/ST in each state, specific constituencies are reserved in proportion to their population.

Can a non-SC/ST candidate contest in reserved seats?
No. Only candidates from the respective reserved category can contest from reserved constituencies.

What is an electoral roll?
It is a list of eligible voters in a constituency. Only those whose names are on the roll can vote.

What is voter ID?
A document issued by the Election Commission to verify a person’s identity during elections.

What is NOTA?
“None of the Above” allows voters to reject all candidates if they are not satisfied with any.

What is Model Code of Conduct?
A set of guidelines for political parties and candidates to ensure free and fair elections, issued during election time.

What is electoral reform?
Measures taken to improve the electoral system, such as curbing money power, ensuring transparency, and preventing criminalization of politics.

What are independent candidates?
Individuals who contest elections without being affiliated to any political party.

What is delimitation?
It is the process of redrawing the boundaries of constituencies to reflect changes in population and ensure fair representation.

Who is responsible for delimitation?
The Delimitation Commission of India, an independent body, redraws boundaries based on census data.

What is a political party?
A group of people with similar ideas and policies who contest elections to gain power and implement their programs.

What is the difference between a national and a regional party?
A national party has a presence across the country; a regional party is limited to one or a few states.

What is the role of political parties in elections?
They nominate candidates, campaign for votes, form governments, and help people participate in politics.

What is electoral malpractice?
Illegal activities like vote buying, rigging, impersonation, or using government machinery to influence elections.

What is the importance of free and fair elections?
They reflect true public opinion, protect democratic values, and ensure legitimacy of the government.

How can citizens ensure clean elections?
By voting responsibly, avoiding bribery, reporting malpractices, and being aware of their rights and duties.