Civics

Electoral Politics

Question:

What makes an election democratic?

Answer:

The necessary conditions required for a democratic election are:
  1. Everyone should be able to choose i.e. everyone should have one vote and everyvote should have equal value. Voters list is reviewed and revised time to time.
  2. There should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contestelections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
  3. Elections must be held regularly after every few years.
  4. The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
  5. Elections should be held in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really wish.
  6. No bogus or biased voting is allowed. e.g. voter identity cards are issued to check bogus voting.
  7. There exists an independent Election Commission in the country to conduct free and fair elections.
previuos
next

Questions and Answers

Electoral Politics

Q 1.

What are the minimum conditions required for a democratic election?
Answer

Q 2.

Match the following
(i) It is necessary to keep the voters list up to date because (a) there is a fair representation of all sections of our society
(ii) Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that(b) everyone has equal opportunity to elect their representative
(iii) Everyone has one and only one vote so that(c) all candidates must have a fair chance of competing in elections
(iv) Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicles because(d) some people may have moved away from the area where they voted last
Answer

Q 3.

Why do democracies need to have elections?
Answer

Q 4.

What is an election?
Answer

Q 5.

What makes an election democratic?
Answer

Q 6.

What are the conditions which make an election democratic?
Answer

Q 7.

What is a voter list? Why it is important?
Answer

Q 8.

List all the different election related activities mentioned in the chapter and arrange them in a time sequence, beginning with the first activity and ending with the last. Some of these activities are given below:

  1. releasing election manifestos;
  2. counting of votes;
  3. making of voters' list;
  4. election campaign;
  5. declaration of election results;
  6. casting of votes;
  7. ordering of re-poll;
  8. announcing election schedule;
  9. filing nomination.
Answer

Q 9.

Surekha is an officer in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what should she focus on for each of the following stages of election:
a) Election campaign
b) Polling day
c) Counting day
Answer

Q 10.

Which of the following statements about the reasons for conducting elections are false?
(a) Elections enable people to judge the performance of the government.
(b) People select the representative of their choice in an election.
(c) Elections enable people to evaluate the performance of the judiciary.
(d) People can indicate which policies they prefer.
Answer