SOCIAL SCIENCE (VIII)- LESSON 5 UNIVERSAL FRANCHISE AND INDIA’S ELECTORAL SYSTEM (LESSON NOTES)

 

SOCIAL SCIENCE (VIII)- LESSON 5

UNIVERSAL FRANCHISE AND INDIA’S ELECTORAL SYSTEM

(LESSON NOTES)

  v Introduction

Ø Democracy is based on the participation of citizens in decision-making.

Ø Elections are the primary means through which people express their political will.

Ø India adopted Universal Adult Franchise at the time of Independence, making it one of the largest democracies in the world.

Ø The chapter explains:

§  Universal adult franchise

§  Electoral system

§  Role of the Election Commission of India

§  Types of elections in India

v Meaning of Franchise and Suffrage

Ø Franchise: - Franchise means the right granted by the Constitution or government to vote.

Ø Suffrage: - Suffrage is another term used for franchise. Both terms refer to the right to vote in elections.

v Universal Adult Franchise

Ø Universal Adult Franchise means:

§  Every adult citizen gets one vote and each vote has equal value.

§  In India, every citizen aged 18 years and above has the right to vote. India changed the minimum age for voting from 21 to 18 in 1988.

§  Article 326 of the Indian Constitution provides for universal adult franchise.

§  People convicted of certain serious crimes may be disqualified from voting.

Ø Features

§  Voting rights are granted irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender, education, income and race.

§  No person can vote on behalf of another.

§  A citizen must be registered as a voter in any constituency to exercise this right.

v Importance of Universal Adult Franchise

Ø Universal adult franchise is a cornerstone of democracy because:

§  Ensures political equality

§  Gives every citizen a voice

§  Prevents discrimination

Ø Encourages participation in governance

Ø Makes elected representatives answerable to the people

Ø Allows people to:

·        Decide their future

·        Choose suitable representatives

·        Remove inefficient leaders through elections

Ø Strengthens civic engagement and democratic values

v Universal Franchise in India: A Bold Experiment

Ø At Independence, India had:

·        Very low literacy rates (around 14%)

·        Only about 8% literacy among women

Ø Despite challenges, Constitution makers trusted the wisdom of common people.

Ø India granted voting rights to women from the beginning, unlike many Western nations.

v Challenges of Conducting Elections in India

Ø Large population (about 980 million voters in 2024)

Ø Vast geographical diversity.

Ø Remote and inaccessible areas.

Ø Linguistic, cultural, and social diversity.

v Role of the Election Commission of India (ECI)

v Introduction

Ø The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional body. It was Established in 1950. The first general elections in independent India were held in 1951-1952.

Ø EC Conducts these election:-

§  Lok Sabha elections

§  Rajya Sabha elections

§  State Legislative Assembly elections

§  Elections of the President and Vice President

Ø Structure

§  Central Level: - Chief Election Commissioner and Two Election Commissioners

§  State Level: - Chief Electoral Officer (State/UT level)

§  District Level: - District Election Office Returning Officer

§  Electoral Registration Officer

v Functions

§  Fixing election schedules.

§  Preparing and updating voter lists.

§  Registering political parties.

§  Enforcing the Model Code of Conduct.

§  Conducting free and fair elections.

§  Supervising the entire electoral process.

v Accessibility and Inclusion in Elections

Ø Electoral officials reach remote areas to ensure participation.

Ø Special measures include:

§  Home voting for elderly and persons with disabilities

§  Postal ballots for specific voters

§  Braille-enabled voter cards

§  Wheelchair assistance and ramps

Ø Aim: No voter is left behind

v The Electoral Process

Ø Steps in Voting (Lok Sabha and State Assemblies)

§  Verification of voter identity

§  Marking of finger with indelible ink

§  Casting vote using EVM (Electronic Voting Machine)

§  Verification through VVPAT (Voter verifiable paper audit trail) slip

Ø Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

§  Faster and more reliable than paper ballots

§  Reduce chances of rigging

§  Used along with VVPAT for transparency.

v Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

Ø A set of guidelines issued by the ECI to ensure free and fair elections is referred as Model Code of Conduct. The Model Code of Conduct was adopted in Kerala in 1960. T.N. Seshan became the Chief Election Commissioner in 1990. He brought in reforms to ensure free and fair elections, among them. From 1991, the ECI became proactive in ensuring the observance

Ø of the MCC.

Ø Key Provisions of MCC

§  No misuse of government resources

§  No announcement of new schemes during elections

§  No bribing or gifting voters

§  No hate speech or abusive language

§  Candidates must maintain peace and discipline

Ø Importance

§  Ensures a level playing field.

§  Prevents unfair practices.

§  Strengthens trust in the electoral process.

v Types of Elections in India

Ø Lok Sabha Elections

§  Direct elections on the basis of Universal Adult Franchises.

§  Country divided into 543 constituencies

§  Uses First-Past-The-Post System. It means Candidate with maximum votes wins the election.

§  After the voting process is completed, the process of government formation begins. The political party or coalition winning a majority of the seats in the Lok Sabha forms the national government. The leader of this majority typically becomes the prime minister.

Ø State Legislative Assembly Elections

§  Direct elections on the basis of Universal Adult Franchises.

§  Elected members are called MLAs

§  Similar process as Lok Sabha elections. at the state level. the leader of the

§  majority party becomes the chief minister

Ø Rajya Sabha Elections

§  Indirect elections in every 2 years for one-third of its members for 233 Members out of total 245 (12 Members are Nominated by President)

§  Elected by MLAs

§  Uses Single Transferable Vote system so that smaller states also get fair representation in the Rajya Sabha.

§  Rajya Sabha is called as Upper House and a permanent house and Never dissolve.

Ø Election of the President

§  Indirect election

§  Conducted by an electoral college consisting of MPs and MLAs (Nominated members are not participated in Election)

§  Uses Single Transferable Vote system

Ø Election of the Vice President

§  The vice president is the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. If there are situations when the president is not able to discharge their function, the vice president steps in to play the role.

§  Elected by MPs of both houses (Nominated also)

v Reserved Constituency OR Seats

Ø Constituency refers as an area whose voters elect a representative to a legislative body. There are 543 Lok Sabha constituency in our country.

Ø Certain seats in Lok Sabha are reserved to Ensures representation of marginalized communities.

§  84 Constituency are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC)

§  47 Constituency are reserved Scheduled Tribes (ST)

v Challenges Before Indian Democracy

Ø Influence of money power

Ø Criminalization of politics

Ø Low voter turnout in urban areas

Ø Voter apathy and lack of awareness

v The Way Forward

Ø Voter education and awareness

Ø Responsible use of media and technology

Ø Youth participation

Ø Strong enforcement of election laws

Ø Informed and vigilant voters