Elections

Elections are essential to democracy because they allow citizens to choose the representatives who make decisions on their behalf. They give people the power to form, change, or remove a government peacefully. Regular elections also make leaders accountable, because representatives know that voters can reject them if they do not work properly. Elections ensure popular participation, equality, representation, and legitimacy. Without elections, democracy would lose its meaning because people would have no real voice in governance.

Electoral systems and rules decide how votes are converted into seats. In India, the First-Past-The-Post system is

used for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, where the candidate with the highest votes wins. Rules related to constituencies, electoral rolls, nominations, symbols, campaigns, and voting procedures help maintain fairness. If rules are clear and applied equally, all candidates and voters get a fair chance. Thus, electoral systems directly affect representation, fairness, and public trust in democracy.

Institutions and laws provide the framework for free and fair elections. The Election Commission of India supervises elections, prepares electoral rolls, announces election schedules, registers political parties, and ensures proper voting. Laws like the

Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951 regulate

seats, electoral rolls, nominations, campaigns, voting procedures, disputes, and corrupt practices. These institutions and laws prevent misuse of power and help ensure that elections remain transparent, impartial, inclusive, and trustworthy.

Elections face several challenges such as misinformation, fake news, voter intimidation, money power, misuse of caste or religion, and violation of the Model Code of Conduct. These challenges can influence voters unfairly and reduce public

confidence in elections. If voters are misled, threatened, or bribed, they may not be able to make free choices. This weakens democracy because the elected government may not truly reflect the will of the people. Therefore, vigilance and awareness are necessary.

A sample case study may include India, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, and the United States. India and the UK use First-Past-The-Post for lower-house elections; South Africa uses proportional representation; Brazil uses a two-round presidential system; Australia uses preferential voting; and the US uses the Electoral College for presidential elections. Recent results show NDA formed government in India, Labour won in the

UK, ANC remained largest in South Africa, Lula won Brazil, Labor

won Australia, and Trump won the US presidency.

The long interval between the 1973 and 2002 Delimitation Commissions happened because the government froze the redistribution of seats after the 1971 Census. This was done mainly

so that states which controlled population growth through family planning would not lose political representation. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment froze delimitation until after the 2001 Census. Later, delimitation was resumed through the Delimitation Act, 2002, but the total number of seats remained largely unchanged.

A person who turns 18 years of age can register as a voter

by filling Form 6 on the Voters’ Service Portal or through the Voter

Helpline App. The applicant must provide basic details, a recent photograph, proof of age, and proof of ordinary residence. After submission, election officials verify the details, and if everything is correct, the person’s name is added to the electoral roll. The process is useful because only those listed in the electoral roll can vote.

ETPBS means Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot

System. It helps service voters receive postal ballots electronically and vote from a place outside their original constituency. Service voters include members of the armed forces, members of forces covered by the Army Act, members of a State armed police force

serving outside that State, and Government of India employees posted outside India. A service voter’s wife, if ordinarily residing with him, may also be treated as eligible under service voter rules.

Lok Sabha Elections. A sample poster can compare BJP and INC. BJP’s 2024 manifesto focused on NEP-based education, national security, welfare schemes, green energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and Ayushman Bharat. Congress focused on education as a right, social justice, welfare guarantees, review of environment-related laws, job creation, manufacturing growth, and Right to Health.

Students can use colour coding: saffron/blue for BJP points and green/blue for Congress points. Sources should include official party manifestos and credible newspapers.

As per ECI-linked information, India had 60 recognised State parties in the March 2024 list, though later notifications can change party recognition status. Registered Unrecognised Political Parties, or RUPPs, are parties that are registered with the ECI but have not gained recognised national or state party status. A republished ECI notification dated October 2025 listed RUPPs up to serial number 2049. Students should check the latest ECI list before final submission because these numbers may change.

This is a school-level simplified list of major winning alliances. Alliance membership changes over time, so students should verify final names from ECI records or credible election reports.

Major State or

Allies

Bharatiya Lok Dal,

Democracy

Shiv Sena, TDP, DMK,

1999 NDA BJP, Janata Dal (United) BJD, SAD, PMK,

INLD, others

DMK, PMK, TRS,

2004 UPA INC, NCP, RJD, LJP

JMM, IUML, others

DMK, TMC, JMM, National

2009 UPA INC, NCP, RJD

Conference, IUML, others

Shiv Sena, TDP, LJP,

2014 NDA BJP SAD, Apna Dal, PMK,

others

JD(U), Shiv Sena, LJP,

2019 NDA BJP, NPP SAD, AIADMK, Apna

Dal, others

2024 NDA BJP, NPP TDP, JD(U), Shiv

Major State or

Allies

Sena, LJP(RV), JD(S), NCP, RLD, AGP, others

The chapter explains that the Janata Party formed the first coalition government at the national level in 1977, while NDA and UPA/INDIA became major alliances later. In 2024, the NDA won 293 seats and formed the government.

Apart from misinformation, fake news, and intimidation, other challenges include money power, muscle power, paid news, hate speech, misuse of religion or caste, low voter awareness, and difficulty faced by elderly or disabled voters. These challenges can reduce fairness and discourage free voting. They can be overcome through strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, voter awareness campaigns, use of cVIGIL, security at polling booths, transparent counting, strong action against corrupt practices, and active participation by responsible citizens.

The ECI has introduced several facilities for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). These include ramps, wheelchairs, volunteers, Braille-enabled EVMs, accessible polling stations, and the Saksham App. PwD voters with 40% benchmark disability can also use the optional home voting facility in notified elections. These reforms help disabled voters cast their vote with dignity and independence. The aim is to follow the idea of “No Voter to Be Left Behind.”

Service voters include members of the armed forces, certain armed police forces serving outside their state, and government officials posted abroad. The ECI provides them the

Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). Under

this system, the postal ballot is sent electronically, the voter downloads it, marks the vote, and sends it back by post. This helps service voters participate even when they are posted far away from their original constituency.

For senior citizens, the ECI provides facilities such as priority voting, seating, drinking water, volunteers, ramps, and assistance at polling stations. For very elderly voters, the ECI has introduced optional home voting/postal ballot. In the 2024 Lok

Sabha elections, this facility was available for voters above 85 years of age and PwDs with 40% benchmark disability. This helps elderly voters who may find it difficult to visit polling stations.

In India, ordinary prisoners and persons in police custody are generally not allowed to vote under the existing election law. Therefore, the ECI cannot give them voting facilities unless the law permits it. However, persons who are under preventive detention are treated differently and are allowed to vote through postal ballot. Thus, regular prisoners are excluded, but preventive detention cases are given a special voting facility.

Persons in preventive detention are allowed to vote through the postal ballot system. Since they cannot physically go to the polling station, the ECI provides them a way to cast their vote without being present at the booth. ECI material clearly mentions that postal ballot options are available to electors on preventive detention. This helps protect their voting right while following legal and security procedures.

The Election Commission of India performs many important functions. It prepares and revises electoral rolls, announces election schedules, registers political parties, allocates symbols, supervises nominations, monitors campaigns, enforces

the Model Code of Conduct, manages polling, counts votes, declares results, and helps resolve election-related disputes. The ECI is an autonomous constitutional body that administers elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice President. The most important function is ensuring free and fair elections, because all other functions support this goal. If elections are not fair, people lose trust in democracy. A correct electoral roll is also very important because it is the foundation of a free, fair, and credible election.

Yes, I agree that elections are the soul of democracy. In a democracy, people do not rule directly in large countries; they choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Elections give citizens the power to form, change, or remove governments peacefully. They also make leaders accountable because elected representatives know that people can reject them in the next election. Elections promote equality because every eligible citizen gets one vote. Without regular elections, democracy would become meaningless.

National parties have influence in several states, while state or regional parties mainly work in one state or region.

National parties usually raise issues of national importance such as foreign policy, national security, economy, and country-wide welfare schemes. State parties focus more on regional issues such as local language, culture, state rights, farmers, and regional development. Another difference is recognition. A party becomes a national party only after fulfilling ECI criteria across several states, while a state party needs to fulfil ECI criteria in a particular state. National parties have a wider organisational network, while state parties have stronger local connections.

My descending order is: 1. Strengthens democracy

Opportunity to choose my representative

Opportunity to change the non-performing representative

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an initiative of the ECI to update, verify, and correct the electoral roll. Through SIR, the ECI adds names of eligible voters, especially young citizens who have turned 18, and removes names of voters who have died, shifted residence, enrolled twice, or become permanently untraceable. The objective of SIR is to ensure that no eligible citizen is left out and no ineligible person is included. It is necessary because a correct electoral roll is essential for free, fair, and credible elections.

7. Match the political party name with its symbol.

These symbols are listed by the election authorities for recognised national parties.

Several ECI initiatives are shown in the case study. Ishani registered through the ECI online portal. Her disabled brother received a wheelchair and help from volunteers. The polling station was guarded by police to ensure peaceful voting. Ishani could see the VVPAT slip, which made voting transparent. Her 89-year-old grandmother voted from home through the home voting facility. These steps show how the ECI makes elections accessible, safe, and trustworthy.

If Ishani’s name was on the electoral roll, she could vote using another valid photo identity document. She might have been carrying a passport, driving licence, PAN card, bank or post office passbook with photograph, MNREGA job card, pension document, or health insurance smart card. The ECI allows alternative photo identity documents when a voter does not have the voter ID card at the polling station.

Examples of Model Code of Conduct violations include giving gifts or money to influence voters, asking people to vote on

the basis of religion, caste, community, language, or race, threatening voters, creating disturbances near polling booths, using government vehicles or officials for campaigning, and campaigning within the prohibited distance near a polling station. The ECI’s rules prohibit such actions to ensure peaceful, fair, and free voting.

A suitable title can be: “Ishani’s First Voting Experience” Another suitable title can be: “Inclusive and Transparent Voting in India”

Police personnel or other government staff on election duty may vote through postal ballot or an Election Duty Certificate, depending on the situation. Army personnel and other service voters usually vote through the ETPBS system. Under ETPBS, the postal ballot is sent electronically, the voter downloads it, marks the vote, and sends it back by post. This allows voters on duty or posted away from home to participate in elections.

In a multi-party system, voting rights are more meaningful because citizens can choose between different parties, leaders, ideas, and policies. People can also replace a non-performing government. In a single-party system, citizens may vote, but their choice is limited because only one party dominates politics. This reduces real competition and weakens the freedom of voters. Thus, voting in a multi-party democracy gives greater representation and accountability.

I would like to stay in Country A because it has a written constitution, periodic elections, voting rights, and a party system that varies from two-party to multi-party. Even though its standard of living is average, people have political freedom and the power to choose their representatives. Country B has better economic conditions but only one political party, so real political choice is limited. Country C has a high standard of living but no voting rights, so it is less democratic.

The main challenges to free and fair elections are misinformation, fake news, voter intimidation, money power, muscle power, paid news, misuse of caste or religion, hate speech, misuse of government machinery, and violations of the Model Code of Conduct. Accessibility problems for elderly voters, disabled voters, remote communities, and service voters are also challenges. These problems can influence voters unfairly and

reduce public trust. They can be handled through strict ECI monitoring, voter awareness, security, VVPAT, cVIGIL, and active citizen participation.

For a school election, students can perform different roles. The Election Commissioner will announce election rules and dates. The Returning Officer will accept nominations and declare results. Candidates will present their ideas. Campaigners will request votes peacefully. Polling Officers will check voter names and conduct voting. Polling Agents will observe the process. Police Personnel will maintain discipline. A Journalist will report the election fairly. This activity teaches students how free, fair, and transparent elections are conducted.

Students can prepare short videos or audios on topics such as “My Vote, My Nation,” “No Voter to Be Left Behind,” and “How to Eliminate the Ill of Money Power.” For “My Vote, My Nation,” students can explain how voting strengthens democracy. For “No Voter to Be Left Behind,” they can show ECI facilities for PwDs, elderly voters, and service voters. For “How to Eliminate Money Power,” they can discuss strict rules, voter awareness, and reporting violations through official complaint systems.

Comparative Chart of the Last Two State Legislative

Assembly Elections

Selected party

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

State/UT

Delhi

Elections compared

Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 and 2025

Delhi Assembly Delhi Assembly

Point of Comparison

Election 2020 Election 2025

Continuation of Better schools, welfare schemes, mohalla clinics, free women’s financial Some promises made electricity/water support promise, in benefits, women’s education, health, manifesto/campaign safety, public electricity/water transport benefits, cleaning improvement Yamuna

Percentage of votes

53.57% 43.57%

polled by AAP

Number of seats won

62 seats 22 seats

by AAP

Number of women

Yes, One Nation, One Election may improve efficiency because Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections would be held together. This could reduce election expenditure, save time, reduce repeated use of government machinery, and allow governments to focus more on development work instead of frequent campaigning. However, it also has limitations. India is a federal country, and state issues may get overshadowed by national issues. If a state government falls early, managing the election cycle may become difficult. Therefore, it can improve efficiency, but it needs careful planning, constitutional changes, and protection of federal democracy.