Electoral System in India, Background, Features, Process, Types

The election process in India is the cornerstone of its vibrant democracy, ensuring the participation of citizens in choosing their representatives. Governed by constitutional provisions and election statutes, this structured process is pivotal in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of elections. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of the Indian election process, covering its various stages, schedules, and significant aspects.

Election Process in India

There are some key stages of the Election Process in India:

• Announcement of Election Schedule by the ECI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) declares the schedule of elections through a formal announcement, setting the timeline for crucial events in the electoral process.
• Issue of Notification by the ECI: Following the announcement, the ECI issues notifications calling upon the electorate to elect members of the legislative bodies.
• Filing of Nominations by the Candidates: Candidates file their nominations in their respective constituencies within the stipulated timeframe after the issuance of notifications.
• Oath or Affirmation of Candidates: Candidates make an oath or affirmation before authorized officers, signaling their commitment to contest in the elections.
• Election Campaign: Political parties and candidates engage in election campaigns to garner support and persuade voters through various means, adhering to the Model Code of Conduct.
• Allocation of Symbols: Candidates receive symbols, either reserved for national/state parties or allocated from a list of free symbols, for identification on the ballot.
• Polling Days and Voting Procedure: Voting takes place over multiple days across different constituencies, conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to ensure secrecy and efficiency.
• Supervising Elections and Media Coverage: The ECI deploys election observers to oversee the electoral process, while media coverage ensures transparency while respecting voter secrecy.
• Counting of Votes and Constitution of House: Votes cast in EVMs are counted, and the candidate with the highest votes is declared the winner. The elected members form the legislative bodies, completing the electoral cycle.

Special Features

• Electronic Voting Machine (EVM): A technological advancement facilitating faster and more secure voting.
• Opinion Polls and Exit Polls: Surveys conducted to gauge public sentiment and predict election outcomes, subject to specific regulations by the ECI.

Electrol system of India

The electoral system translates votes into seats for parties and candidates. In India, the system used for General Assembly Elections is called the First-past-the-post (FPTP) system. Here, each voter has one vote, and the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins. This system uses single-member constituencies and categorical ballots, where voters choose their preferred candidate.

Merits of the FPTP System:

• Simplicity: Voters can easily choose between individual candidates and parties.
• Stability: It tends to create majority governments quickly, leading to stable governance.
• Strong Opposition: Allows opposition parties to gain enough seats to effectively check the ruling party.
• Inclusiveness: Independent candidates can run, and parties must be diverse to attract different groups.
• Accountability: Representatives work for their specific constituencies, as their re-election depends on local support.

Demerits of the FPTP System:

• Disproportionality: The number of votes a party receives does not always match the number of seats they win, often leaving many votes wasted.
• Majority Governments: This system can create majority governments even with minority support, leading to instability when opposition parties unite.
• Exclusion of Women and Minorities: Candidates are often chosen based on popularity, which can marginalize women and minority groups.
• Manipulation: Candidates may focus on vote-bank politics rather than important issues, leading to societal divisions and intolerance.

Overall, while the FPTP system has some advantages, its flaws can undermine true democratic representation. There’s a need to consider alternative electoral systems that better reflect the diversity of the population.

Electoral System in India: Background

For elections to be meaningful in a democracy, the methods used to conduct them must be acceptable. It’s essential to carefully evaluate these methods, considering their pros and cons.   India has a parliamentary system where power is shared between the federal government and the states. The President of India serves as the ceremonial head of state and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

In general elections, every citizen has the right to vote in private. Members of Parliament are elected representatives who can serve for up to five years.

Features of the Electoral System in India

The electoral system in India serves as the bedrock of its democratic framework, providing a platform for citizens to exercise their voting rights and participate in governance. This article delves into the distinctive features and mechanisms of the electoral system in India, elucidating its role in shaping the country’s political landscape.

Positions in Election in India

India is a democratic, secular, socialist, and independent republic. The idea of democracy as it is expressed in the Constitution is that the people will be represented in the federal government and state legislatures through the electoral process.

Different Procedure for Electoral System in India

Elections provide every adult citizen of the country with the chance to participate in the process of forming the government. These elections are held under the tenet of the universal adult franchise, which grants any Indian who is 18 years of age or older the right to vote, regardless of caste, colour, religion, sex, or place of birth.

First Past the Post and Proportional Representation are the two election-processing procedures utilized in India.

Electoral Process of India

Notification for Election

The election process begins when the President (for the Lok Sabha) or the Governor (for the State Assembly) issues a notification, based on the Election Commission’s recommendation. Candidates then have seven days to submit their nominations.

Filing of Nomination

The candidate’s name, age, postal address, and electoral roll serial number must be included on the nomination document, which must be presented in the correct manner. The candidate must be properly proposed and seconded by at least two registered voters from the affected constituency.

Deposition of Security Deposit

When submitting their nomination, each applicant is asked to submit a security deposit. The security deposit is forfeited if the candidate doesn’t win at least 1/6 of the valid votes cast.

Scrutiny and Withdrawal

On the day set by the Election Commission, the Returning Officer checks each nomination form to make sure all paperwork is correct and that the required security deposit is included. The Returning Officer can reject any nomination paper. Candidates have until the second day after this review to withdraw their nominations.

Election Campaign

Campaigning is the procedure a candidate uses to persuade voters to support him instead of the opposition. All recognized national and regional parties can now run their election campaigns for free on state-owned electronic media, including as All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan.

Electoral System in India UPSC

An election is a process where voters regularly choose their representatives and have the option to remove them at any moment. Elections are a process of choosing representatives for different government offices by utilising ballots. Elections are the foundation of democracy. Representatives must be chosen through elections. In most democracies, the people are in charge through their representatives. Students can read all the details related to UPSC by visiting the official website of StudyIQ UPSC Online Coaching.

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