9th Class (CBSE) Social Science: Electoral Politics

Question: Who can vote and who cannot vote in India?

Answer: In India , all the citizens above the age of 18 can vote in an election. They have the right to vote, regardless of their caste, religion or gender.

The government gets the names of all the eligible voters and prepares the voters’ list. As new persons attain voting age names are added to the voters’ list. Names of those who move out of a place or those who are dead are deleted. A complete revision of the list takes place every five years.

Criminals and persons with unsound mind are denied the right to vote.

Question: What should a citizen do if he or she wants to contest the elections?

Answer:Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form’ and pay a ‘security deposit’. They are requested to present a declaration. The legal declaration has to have the following details:

1. Details of any serious criminal cases pending against them. (If applicable).
2. Details of the assets and liabilities they have and that of their family members.
3. Educational qualifications.

This information will be made public. This provides an opportunity to the voters to voice their objections, if any, and make the right decision during elections.

Question: What are the two methods of voting?

Answer:The two methods of voting are:

1. The Ballot Paper: A ballot paper is a sheet of paper on which the names of the contesting candidates along with their party name and symbols are listed. The voters indicate whom they want to vote for by putting a stamp on the ballot paper.
2. Electronic Voting: Electronic voting machines (EVM) are used to record votes. The machine shows the names of the candidates and the party symbols. The voter has to press the button corresponding to the name of the person he wants to vote. Then the vote gets registered automatically. Independent candidates too have their own symbols, allotted by election officials. Voting is conducted in total secrecy.

Question: Why do we need elections?

Answer:Elections are essential for any representative democracy. In an election the citizens have many choices. They are:

1. They can choose the people who will make laws.
2. They can choose the government that will rule them.
3. They can decide on the party whose policies they prefer.

Question: What is the percentage of reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok shaba?

Answer: In the Lok Sabha, 79 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 41 for the Scheduled Tribes. This number is proportionate to their population. This reservation does not lessen the legitimate share of any other social group.

Question: What is called a ticket in politics?

Answer: Party’s nomination of a candidate is often called party ‘ticket’.

Question: Mention a few successful slogans that were used during election campaigns.

Answer: The most successful slogans used during election campaigns were:

1. Garibi Hatao or Remove poverty: This slogan was used by the Congress party led by Indira Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971. The party promised to remove poverty from the country.
2. Save Democracy: This slogan used by Janata Party in the Lok Sabha election held in 1977. The party promised to undo the excesses committed during Emergency and restore civil liberties.
3. Land to the Tiller:This slogan was used by the Left Front in the West Bengal Assembly elections held in 1977.
4. Protect the Self-Respect of the Telugus: This slogan used by N. T. Rama Rao, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections in 1983.

Question: Write a brief note on the Election Commission.

Answer: The Election Commission is independent and very powerful. It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India. He heads the Election Commission. After his election the CEC is not answerable to the President or the government. It is impossible for the government to remove the CEC, even if it is dissatisfied with him. The powers of the Election Commission of India are as follows:

1. EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.
2. It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it
3. During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials
4. When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the government.