Elections are necessary in a democracy to allow citizens to choose their representatives, as it is not possible for all citizens to directly participate in decision making. Elections take place every 5 years for parliament and state assemblies, with the election commission determining dates. Any citizen over 18 can vote, while those over 25 and 30 can contest elections. Campaigning involves posters, meetings and door-to-door canvassing in the 2 weeks prior to polling. Efforts are made to increase women's participation, and election expenditure is monitored closely. Electronic voting machines are now used widely across India to conduct elections.

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2. WHY DO WE NEED ELECTIONS?
Let us try to imagine a democracy without
elections. A rule of people is possible
without any elections if all the people can
sit together everyday and take all the
decisions. But, this is not possible in any
large community. Nor it is possible for
everyone to have the time and knowledge
to take decisions on all matters.
Therefore in most democracies people
rule through their representatives.

3. When Elections take place?
• Term of Parliament & Assembly - 5years (except J & K
Assembly where it is 6 years).
• Dates decided by the Commission. No consultation done
with any Government.
• Commission can call for elections six months prior to the
date on which normal tenure of Assembly or Parliament
expires.
• Bye-elections when a seat falls vacant. Normally held
within 6-months of vacancy. No Bye-elections if vacancy
for less than one year.

4. Who can Contest?
• Any citizen over 25 years for Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha
• Any citizen over 30 years for Rajya sabha & Vidhan Parishad
• Candidate should not be convicted or disqualified otherwise
• Security deposit:
– Rs.10,000/ for Lok Sabha
– Rs. 5000/- for Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha & Vidhan Parishad
– SC & ST candidates pay half the amount
– Deposit returned if candidate secures more than 1/6th of valid votes

5. Right to Vote
• Any citizen over 18 can vote.
• Voting right denied to certain class of people:
– criminal convicts of certain class
– person convicted of electoral offence
– person of unsound mind
– There is no compulsion to vote
• Voting statistics
– 57.94% in 1996
– 61.97% in 1998
– 59.01% in 1999
– 58.07% in 2004

6. Time and mode of election
campaigns…..
• Campaign period of about 13 days or more
• Ends 48 hours before polling closes
• Parties issue manifestoes
• Slogans, Door-to-door campaigning etc.
• Posters, meetings, processions etc.

7. Women Participation
• No specific law for reservation of seats as yet
• Political parties expected to put up women
candidates in reasonable numbers
• Separate Q for women voters.
• At least one lady officer posted in every
polling station
• Lady officer alone can see and verify
“pardhanasheen” ladies ( Ladies wearing
veils).

8. Limits on Poll Expenses - I
Limits on candidates
• Lok Sabha - Maximum Rs. 2,500,000 ;
Minimum - Rs. 1,000,000.
• Vidhan Sabha- Max. Rs. 1,000,000; Min. -
Rs. 500,000.
• Commission monitors expenses closely
– Expenditure Observers
– Detailed accounts furnished by
candidates within 30 days of
declaration of election results

9. Observers
• Appointed from senior civil servants
• General Observers drawn from IAS
• Expenditure Observers drawn from IRS
• Statutory role for Observers
• Report directly to Commission
• Eyes and ears of the Commission in the
Constituencies
• Nearly 2000 observers appointed in GE 2014
• All counting centers covered

10. Interesting Facts of Politics…..
1. The oldest Candidate, as well as winner was 94
years old.
2. The youngest elected MP is 26 years old.
3. The average age of elected MP is 52.6 years.
4. Out of 543 MPs, 45 are women.
5. Maximum number of candidates was 35 in Madras
South Constituency.
6. Due to first-past-the-post system, about 2/3rd
elected MPs have less than 35% Votes polled
(against number of Electors).

11. Electoral Reforms
• Criminalisation of politics
• Number of seats a person can contest
• Ext Polls and Opinion Polls
• Surrogate Advertisements on Print Media
• Political Ads on TV and Cable network
• Party Accounts and its Audit
• Government sponsored Advertisements
• Negative/Neutral Voting
• Decisions on Anti-defection cases

12. Features OF Electronic Voting
Machine
• Centres around state-of-the-art
microprocessor with built-in PROM
storing the software code which cannot
be retrieved or altered
• Reliable, robust and error free software
• Legacy software with machine codes
used to preserve integrity and security
• Portable and easy to operate

13. Election Machinery in States
• Chief Electoral Officers – 35
• District Election Officers – 601
• Returning Officers (Parliament) – 543
• Returning Officers (Assembly) – 4120
• Asstt. Returning Officers (Parliament) – 4600
• Asstt. Returning Officers (Assembly) – 10,000
• Electoral Registration Officers – 4120
• Asstt. Electoral Registration Officers - 4800

15. Photo Gallery – Elections
Officials at distribution
center
Officials checking EVMs
and polling materials
Officials carrying EVMs and
polling materials
A group of Villagers with EPI
cards Officials carrying EVMs
and polling materials
Electors going to exercise
their Franchise
An Elector familiarizing
himself regarding
functioning of EVM

16. Photo Gallery
An elder on way to cast
her vote
Electors waiting in Q Indelible ink being marked
on elector’s finger
Physically
challenged casting
her vote
Chief Election
Commissioner
casting his vote
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
Hon’ble President of
India after casting his

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