An arrangement of citizen to choose to choose their representatives

is known as ELECTION

An election is a formal decision making process by which a population

choose an individual to hold public office. Election have been usual
mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated
since the 17th century.

An election is a formal decision- making

process by which a population chooses an
individual to hold public office.
And all democratic countries hold elections at regular time of
intervals because:

 To bring about peaceful transition from one government to another

 To ensure that no government is elected for life and misuses its power.
 To bring about participation of the people in the political process.

• Democracy is the form of Government in which the

people rule, either directly or through elected
representatives
1. Executive
• President and Vice-President (indirectly elected)

2. Union Legislature (Parliament of India)

• Lok Sabha (Lower house) (directly elected)

• Rajya Sabha (Upper house) (indirectly elected)

3. State Legislature
• State Assemblies (directly elected)

• Legislative Council (indirectly elected)

4. Elections to Local Bodies

• Municipal Corporation

• Gram Panchayat

• block Panchayat
 Functions of Election

The mainstay of a democratic society

 Educating citizens about national and international issues
Showing citizens limits of their own political authority
Operating the principle of general welfare
Elections helps to solve the
problem of succession in
leadership and thus contributes
to the continuation of
democracy
 The Method of Election

Constitution of India in Art 324 provides for a Election

Commissioner and other Election commissioners, who are
appointed by the president of India

The chief election commissioner functions as the chairperson of

the commission.

 Art 325 provides for creation of a single election roll for entire
country

 Art 326 establishes universal adult suffrage as the basis for the
creation of roll.
 Art 327 and 328 provides that the parliament and the state legislature
can legislate on matters of elections, subject to the provision of the
constitution.

 Art 329 bans the courts from interfering in electoral matters

One MP must be elected from each constituency

 First past the post system is used to determine the Winner

State may reserve seats in favor of SC/ST/OBC in legislative bodies

Voter who are not physically present in their constituency on polling day
can vote through the Postal ballot system.
 The Process of Election
The country must be delimited into various constituencies

 The president appoints several regional commissioners on advice

of chief election Commissioner.

The electoral roll is prepared

The election commission calls for a all party meeting to discuss the
poll dates.

The election commission prepares a schedule for election.

 Campaign managers of political parties conduct opinion polls

The code of conduct prescribed by the election commission comes
into forces as the dates are declared

Political parties kick off their campaigning when the poll dates are
announces

On election day, voting commences in the morning and ends in the
evening.

 As voters leave polling booth exit polls are conducted.

The ballot boxes and EVMs are secured in strongholds.

 The votes are counted and the winners are determined by the first past
the post system.
 The world's largest democracy deserves
Free & Fair Elections

1. Curb the role of Black Money

2. All Polical parties to have equal access to media
3. Regulate misuse of media by ruling parties MINS MOA
4. Regulate internal functioning of parties
5. Keep political parties under RTI
6. Implement "Right to Reject' & Right to Recall
7. Bring down lower age limit to contest elections to 21
Weaknesses (defects) in Indian electoral system

 Vote bank politics

 False promises
 Muscle – power
 Communalism
 Casteism
 Preparation of electorals rolls
 The increasing roll of money in elections
 Voting on basis of caste and religious
 Misuse of official machinery
 Absence of voters
 Use of muscle power and criminalization of politics
 Delay in deciding election petitions
Which body is responsible for conducting the elections ?

Function of election commissioner of India

 The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, constitutionally

established federal authority responsible for administering all the electoral
processes in the Republic of India.
 Under the supervision of the commission, free and fair elections have been
held in India at regular intervals as per the principles enshrined in the
Constitution.
 The Election Commission has the power of superintendence, direction and
control of all elections to the Parliament of India
 Function of election
commissioner of India

Delimitations of constituencies
Preparation of electoral rolls
To recognise political parties
 "Allotment of symbols to political parties and
independent
conduct of election of president and vice –president
conduct of election of members of parliament and state
legislature
To order fresh election
 Who is eligible for vote?

The democratic system in India is based on the principle of UNIVERSAL ADULT

FRANCHISE that any citizen over the Age of 18 can vote in election (before 1989 the age
limit 21).
The right to vote is irrespective of caste, creed, religion or gender. Those who are deemed
unsound of mind, and people convicted of certain criminal offense's are not allowed to vote