Class 9 Civics

Chapter 3 Electoral Politics

Q 1. When is National Voters’ Day celebrated in India?
Answer: 25th January every year.

Q 2. Describe the challenges to free and fair elections in India.

Answer: Challenges to the elections in India are:

1. Candidates and parties with a lot of money may not be sure of their victory, but they do enjoy an
advantage over smaller parties and independent candidates. –
2. In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to secure a ticket
from major parties.
3. Some families tend to dominate the political parties. Tickets are distributed to members of these
families.
4. Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens as both the major parties are similar to each
other in their policies and practices.
5. Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage as compared to the bigger
parties.

Q 3. List the ways to regulate and ensure free and fair elections.
Answer: (a) Misuse of government facilities should be prevented.
(b) Rigging on the polling day should be checked.
(c) Role of money and muscle power should be checked.
(d) Voting should be made compulsory.
(e) Contesting candidates should not be allowed to use caste or religion during elections.

Q 4. How is the voters’ list prepared?

Answer: (a) In our country, all the citizens aged 18 and above are eligible to vote in the election.
(b) Every citizen has the right to vote regardless of his caste, creed, sex and religion.
(c) The government is responsible for entering the names of all the eligible voters on the voters list.
(d) Names of those who have moved out of the constituency or are dead are removed from the voters’ list.
(e) A complete revision of the voters’ list is done every five years for updating it.

Q 5. How is people’s participation in elections measured? How can it be said that elections are becoming
popular in India and drawing people’s attention?
Answer: People’s participation in elections is usually measured by voters turnout. The turnout indicates the
percentage of eligible voters who actually cast their vote. Over the last fifty years in India the turnout has
either remained stable or actually gone up.

1. In India the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger number proportion as compared
to the rich and privileged sections. This is in contrast to United States of America where poor people,
African Americans and Hispanics vote much less in comparison to the rich and the Whites.
2. Common people in India attach a lot of importance to the elections. They feel that through election
they can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies and programmes favourable to them.
They also feel that their vote matters in the way things are done in the country.
3. Interest of people in the vote related activities has been increasing over the years, e.g. in 2004
elections, more than 1/3rd voters took part in the campaign-related activities.
Q 6. Describe the wide ranging powers of the Election Commission in India.
Answer: In our country elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful Election Commission
(EC). The Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by the President of India. But once appointed the Chief
Election Commissioner is not answerable to the President or the government. But if the government does not
like what the Commission does, it is virtually impossible for the government to remove the Election
Commissioner.
His wide ranging powers are:

1. Election Commissioner’s decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections are in force
from the announcement of election to the declaration of results.
2. He implements the code of conduct and punishes the candidates and parties that violate it.
3. During the election period the EC can order the government to follow some guidelines, to prevent use
and misuse of governmental powers to enhance their chances to win the elections or to transfer the
government officials.
4. When on election duty the government officials work for the Election Commission not the
government.

Q 7. What are the minimum conditions for a democratic election? Enlist them.
Answer: The conditions for a democratic election are:

1. Everyone should be able to choose from. This means that everyone should have one vote and every
vote should have equal value.
2. There should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections
and offer some real choice to the voters.
3. The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every few
years.
4. The candidates preferred by the people should get elected.
5. Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they wish.

Q 8. How are polls conducted in India?

Answer: The final stage of an election is the day when the voters cast their votes in the polling booth. This
is the Election Day.

1. Every person whose name is in the voters’ list goes to the nearby polling booth to cast his/her vote.
2. Once the voters are in the polling booth, they are recognised by the election officials, they are
identified by putting a ink mark on the finger and allowed to cast their vote.
3. An agent of each candidate is allowed inside the polling booth to ensure that the voting takes place in
a free and fair atmosphere.
4. A ballot paper is placed in which the names of the candidates along with their symbols are listed.
Nowadays EVMs are used to record the votes.
5. The machine i.e. EVM shows the names of the candidates and party symbols. Even the independent
candidates have their own symbol allotted by the Election Commission. A vote presses the button
against the name of the candidate he/she want to vote for.

Q 9. How is campaigning done for elections held in India?

Answer: In India, election campaign is carried out for two weeks between the announcement of elections
and the date of polling.

1. During this period, the candidates contact their voters.

2. Election meetings are organised by political leaders and the political parties mobilise their supporters.
3. During these days the radio, television and the newspapers are full of election related stories and
debates.
4. During the election campaigns, the political parties try to focus public attention on some big issues.
They want the public to vote for their party on that basis.
Q 10. How does a party file a nomination for its candidates?
Answer:

1. In order to be a candidate a person must be 25 years of age.

2. Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support.
3. Party ‘ticket’ is party’s nomination.
4. Every person who contest an election has to fill a nomination form and give some money as security
deposit.
5. Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving some necessary information about themselves.

Q 12. How are elections held in India?

Answer:

1. Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are held regularly after every 5 years.
2. After 5 years the terms of all the elected representatives comes to an end.
3. An area based system of representation is followed in our country. The country is divided into
different areas, called electoral constituencies, for purposes of elections.
4. Elections are held in all the constituencies on the same day at the same time or within a few days as in
the case of General Elections.
5. Sometimes elections are held only for one constituency to fill up the vacancy caused by the death or
resignation of a member. This is called a by-election.
6. The voters who live in an area elect one representative.

Q 13. How can you say that Election Commission of India is independent and powerful?
Answer:

1. EC can reprimand the government and administration for their lapses.

2. If the polling is not fair in some booths or even an entire constituency, EC can order a repoll.
3. Even if the ruling party or government does not like what the commission does, it is virtually
impossible for it to remove the CEC.
4. When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the
government.

Q 14. Give three reasons why the system of reserved constituencies was introduced by the constitution
makers in India.

Answer: The makers of our Constitution introduced Reserved Constituencies for the weaker sections like
SC and ST for several reasons like-

1. To provide a fair chance to the weaker sectipn to get elected to the Lok Sabha and state Legislative
Assemblies in an open electoral competition.
2. The reservation is due to those who are influential and resourceful may prevent the weaker sections
from winning the elections.
3. Besides, through reserved constituencies they tried to promote political empowerment among, weaker
sections.

Q 15. What does the turnout figure indicate?

Answer:
(a) People’s participation in an election is usually measured by voters’ turnout figure.
(b) Turnout indicates the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast their vote.
(c) It indicates the interest of voters in election related activities.
Q 16. What do you know about Voter ID card?
Answer:
 1. Voter ID card is also called Election Photo Identity Card.
2. The government makes efforts to give this card to every person on the voters’ list.
3. The voters are required to carry their card when they go out to cast their vote so that no one else can
vote in their place.
4. This card is not yet compulsory. The voters can show other identity proofs also like the driving

Q 17. What do you mean by “voters’ list”? What is its significance?

Answer:

1. In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election
and is available to everyone.
2. The list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly called the voters’ list.
3. It is an important step for it is linked to the first condition of a democratic election i.e. everyone
should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives. It is revised every year to add names of
those who turn 18 on 1st January of that year or have moved out of the constituency and to remove the
names of those who have died.

Q 18. How do general elections differ from by-elections?

Answer:

General Elections By-Elections

Elections are held in all the constituencies Election are held in the constituencies to

at the same time, either on the same day or fill the vacancy/vacancies caused by death

within few days. or resignation of a member/members.

Q 19. Explain the role of the Election Commission in the election.

Answer: The Election Commission conducts elections in India. Its role is as follows:

1. It takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections from the time of announcement
of elections to the declaration of results.
2. It implements the code of conduct and punishes the parties and candidates who violate it.
3. During the elections, Election Commission can order the government to follow some guidelines, to
prevent misuse of governmental powers to enhance its chances to win the elections or to transfer some
government officials.

Q 20. What is an Election Commission? Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and how can he/she
be removed?
Answer:

1. Election Commission in India is an independent body that conducts elections in India. It enjoys the
same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys.
2. The Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by the President of India. But once appointed, he is not
answerable to the president or the government.
 3. Chief election commissioner can be removed by impeachment process.

Q 21. What is meant by code of conduct? How does it control the activities of parties and candidates?
Answer: Code of conduct means a set of norms and guidelines to be followed by political parties and
candidates during the election time. According to it no party or candidate can:

1. use any place of worship for election propaganda.

2. use government vehicles, aircraft and officials for elections.
3. once elections are announced, Ministers shall not lay foundation stones of any project, take any big
policy decisions or make any promises to provide public facilities.

Q 22. How does our Election Law regulate campaigns?

Answer: According to our election law, no party or candidate can:

1. bribe or threaten voters.

2. appeal to them in the name of caste or religion.
3. use government resources for election campaign.
4. spend more than 25 lakhs in a constituency for the Lok Sabha election or 10 lakh in a constituency in
an assembly election.
If they do so and are elected, their election can be rejected by court.

Q 23. What legal declaration is required to be submitted by each candidate who wishes to contest an
election?
Answer: Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of the following:

1. Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate.

2. Details of his/her assets and liabilities and those of his/her family.
3. Educational qualification of the candidate.
This information is made public. This provides an opportunity to the voters to make their decisions on
the basis of the information provided by the candidates.

Q 24. Why were the Constitution makers worried about certain weaker sections of the country? What did
they do to bring them in the mainstream?
Answer:

1. The Constitution makers were worried that the weaker sections may not have the required resources,
education and contacts to contest and win elections against the influential and resourceful people who
may prevent them from winning the elections.
2. Therefore, they thought of a special system of reserved constituencies for the weaker sections. The
seats reserved for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the Lok Sabha are 84 and 47
respectively. This reservation does not take away the legitimate share of any other social group.
3. Seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women and other backward classes as well.

Q 25. Explain the conditions which make the election process more democratic.
Answer: In order to have election process more democratic there are few pre-requisites like:

1. One vote, one value: To choose/elect the representative everyone must have one note with equal
value. This is to avoid any type of conflicting situation.
2. Regular Election: There should be regular elections in every democratic country so that people have
their choice at regular intervals.
3. Free and Fair Election: In order to ensure a fair chance to the people there should be free and fair
election in every democratic country.
4. Political competition: In order to have democratic election parties, candidates should be free to
contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
Q 26. Enumerate the demerits of an electoral competition?
Answer: The demerits of an electoral competition are:

1. It creates disunity and factionalism in every locality.

2. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one another. Parties and
candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.
3. It is often said that the pressure to win electoral fights does not allow sensible long term policies to be
formulated. Some good people do wish to serve the country but do not like to do so because of being
dragged into unhealthy competition.

Q 27. What the minimum conditions of a democratic election?

Answer: The minimum conditions of a democratic elections are:

 Everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one vote and every vote
should have equal value.
 There should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections
and should offer some real choice to the voters.
 The choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held regularly after every few
years.
 The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
 Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose them at their will.
(Any three)

Q 28. “Election campaigns are needed to regulate”. Why?

Answer: It is sometimes necessary to regulate campaigns to ensure that every political party and candidate
gets a fair and equal chance to compete.
According to our election law, no party or candidate can:

 Bribe or threaten voters.

 Appeal to them in the name of caste or religion.
 Use government resources for election campaign.
 Spend more than 95 lakh in a constituency for a Lok Sabha election or 40 lakh in a constituency in an
assembly election.

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