Elections

Chapter 7 – Elections Notes and Summary for Class 9 Students

Introduction Elections are one of the most important features of democracy. Through elections, citizens choose representatives who make decisions and laws on their behalf. A democracy cannot work properly if people do not get the chance to choose or change their representatives. In India, elections are held regularly for different levels of government such as the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Panchayats, and Municipal bodies. Elections give people the power to participate in government formation and keep leaders accountable. The chapter explains why elections matter, how elections are conducted in India, the role of the Election Commission of India, the importance of political parties, and the challenges faced in conducting free and fair elections.

1. Why do Elections Matter? Elections are the soul of democracy because they give citizens the power to choose their representatives. In a democracy, the government cannot continue forever without asking people for their mandate again. This is why regular and periodic elections are necessary.

Importance of Elections Elections are important because they ensure: 1. Representation People choose representatives who speak and work on their behalf in legislatures. 2. Accountability Elected representatives know that they can be removed in the next election if they do not perform well. 3. Equality Every eligible citizen gets one vote. This gives all citizens an equal voice in choosing the government. 4. Legitimacy A government formed through elections has public approval and becomes legitimate. 5. Participation Elections allow citizens to actively participate in democracy. Direct and Indirect Elections Direct Elections: In direct elections, citizens vote directly to choose their representatives. Example: Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Panchayats, Municipal bodies. Indirect Elections: In indirect elections, citizens elect representatives, and those

representatives elect certain leaders. Example: President, Vice President, and Rajya Sabha members.

2. Inside India’s Election Machinery India is a large and diverse country with millions of voters. Therefore, elections require a strong and well-organised system. For elections to be meaningful, they must be free, fair, transparent, and inclusive. India’s election machinery includes: 1. Constitution and election laws They provide rules for conducting elections. 2. Election Commission of India – ECI It supervises and controls elections. 3. Political parties They contest elections, prepare manifestos, and present policies. 4. Voters They participate by voting. 5. Civil society and media They create awareness and help citizens stay informed.

3. The Electoral System An electoral system is the method used to convert votes into seats in the legislature.

India mainly uses the First-Past-The-Post system for elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. First-Past-The-Post System – FPTP In the FPTP system, each voter votes for one candidate in their constituency. The candidate who gets the highest number of votes wins, even if they do not get more than 50% of the total votes. Example: If Candidate A gets 40%, Candidate B gets 35%, and Candidate C gets 25%, then Candidate A wins because A has the highest votes. Important Point: In FPTP, the winner only needs to get more votes than other candidates, not necessarily a majority of total votes. Proportional Representation – PR In Proportional Representation, seats are distributed according to the percentage of votes received by parties. Example: If a party gets 40% votes, it may get around 40% seats. India uses Proportional Representation for elections to the Rajya Sabha, President, and Vice President. Majority System In the Majority System, a candidate must get more than 50% votes to win. If no one gets more than 50%, the top two candidates may contest again in a second round.

4. The Laws Elections in India are governed by important laws. The two main laws are: Representation of the People Act, 1950 This Act deals mainly with: Allocation of seats Delimitation of constituencies Preparation and revision of electoral rolls Ensuring voting rights for citizens above 18 years of age Representation of the People Act, 1951 This Act deals with: Nomination of candidates Election campaigns Voting procedures Election disputes Electoral offences and corrupt practices Electoral Offences and Corrupt Practices The Representation of the People Act, 1951 prohibits corrupt practices such as: Offering gifts or promises to influence voters Appealing for votes on the basis of religion, caste, race, community, or language Taking help from government officials for election advantage

These laws help maintain integrity, transparency, and accountability in elections.

5. Delimitation Commission Delimitation means fixing the boundaries of constituencies and determining the number of seats. Constituency boundaries cannot remain fixed forever because population changes over time. If delimitation is not done, one representative may represent a very large population while another may represent a much smaller population. This would violate the idea of equal representation. Purpose of Delimitation The Delimitation Commission tries to ensure that the ratio of population to seats is nearly equal across constituencies. Constitutional Provision Article 82 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of the Delimitation Commission. India has had four Delimitation Commissions in: 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002

6. Election Commission of India – ECI The Election Commission of India is an autonomous permanent constitutional body.

It was established on 25 January 1950. The ECI conducts elections to: Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha Vidhan Sabha Vidhan Parishad President of India Vice President of India Constitutional Articles Articles 324 to 329 of the Constitution deal with the Election Commission and its powers. Main Role of ECI The Constitution gives the ECI the power of superintendence, direction, and control over the conduct of elections. This means the ECI is responsible for managing the entire election process.

7. ECI Creates the Electoral Roll An electoral roll is the official list of eligible voters. Only those whose names appear in the electoral roll are allowed to vote. The ECI sends officials to collect information about eligible voters. It prepares electoral rolls constituency-wise and polling station-wise. Special Intensive Revision – SIR

The ECI conducts Special Intensive Revision to update and correct electoral rolls. SIR helps to: Add new eligible voters, especially those who have turned 18 Remove names of voters who have died Remove duplicate names Correct errors in voter details Delete names of people who have changed residence or are permanently untraceable The main purpose of SIR is to ensure that no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible person is included.

8. ECI Decides the Schedule and Date for Elections The ECI decides when elections will be held. When the term of the legislature ends after five years, or if the legislature is dissolved earlier, the ECI starts the election process. While deciding election dates, the ECI considers: Weather conditions Agricultural cycles School and university examinations Festivals Security arrangements This is important because India is a large country with different climates, cultures, and local conditions.

9. ECI Registers Political Parties and Allocates Symbols Only political parties registered with the ECI can contest elections. The ECI also gives election symbols to recognised political parties. Importance of Symbols Election symbols help voters identify parties and candidates easily, especially voters who may not be able to read party names. The ECI also classifies political parties as: Recognised National Parties Recognised State or Regional Parties Registered Unrecognised Political Parties – RUPP The ECI also acts as a quasi-judicial body in disputes related to party recognition and symbol allotment.

10. Ensuring Free and Fair Elections For elections to be meaningful, they must be free, fair, inclusive, impartial, and trustworthy. If voters are threatened, votes are not counted properly, or some people cannot vote because of accessibility problems, then the democratic value of elections becomes weak. Inclusive Measures by the ECI The ECI has taken several steps to include all voters. These include:

EVMs with Braille for visually impaired voters Wheelchairs and volunteers at polling stations Voting from home for senior citizens and persons with disabilities Saksham App for persons with disabilities Voter Helpline App for voter services cVIGIL App to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct ETPBS for service voters Voting from Home During the 2024 General Elections, voting from home was extended across India for: Senior citizens above 85 years of age Persons with disabilities with benchmark disability of 40% Important Digital Tools Voter Helpline App: Helps with registration, verification, and election information. cVIGIL App: Allows voters to report election misconduct. Saksham App: Helps persons with disabilities in voter registration and locating polling stations. ETPBS: Helps service voters cast postal ballots electronically. Suvidha App: Helps candidates and political parties apply for permissions. ERONET: Helps in maintaining electoral rolls. Sugam: Helps manage vehicles used for election work. The ECI follows the idea: “No Voter to Be Left Behind.”

11. Political Parties Political parties are essential to democracy because they organise public opinion and provide choices to voters. In elections, voters learn about candidates, policies, promises, and development plans mainly through political parties. Role of Political Parties Political parties: Organise public opinion Campaign on specific issues Offer meaningful choices to voters Prepare election manifestos Contest elections Form government if they win Act as opposition if they lose Ensure accountability of the government Multi-Party System in India India has a multi-party system, which means many political parties exist and contest elections. This system reflects India’s diversity of: Languages Cultures Religions Regions Local issues

12. Defection and Anti-Defection Law Defection means leaving or switching from the political party under whose ticket a candidate was elected. For example, if a person wins an election as a member of one party and later joins another party, it is called defection. Defection may create political instability and can be seen as political opportunism. Anti-Defection Law The Anti-Defection Law was passed in 1985 through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act. Its purpose is to prevent elected representatives from frequently changing parties and to maintain government stability. According to this law, a member can be disqualified if they: Voluntarily give up party membership Vote against the party’s instructions or whip The Speaker or Chairman of the House decides such cases.

13. Criteria for National and State Party Recognition The ECI recognises political parties based on specific criteria. National Party Recognition A party can be recognised as a National Party if it fulfils any one of the conditions, such as:

It gets at least 6% valid votes in four or more states in Lok Sabha or Assembly elections and wins at least four Lok Sabha seats. Or It wins at least 2% seats in the Lok Sabha, with candidates elected from at least three states. Or It is recognised as a State Party in at least four states. State Party Recognition A party can be recognised as a State Party if it fulfils any one of the conditions, such as: It gets at least 6% valid votes in the State Assembly election and wins at least two Assembly seats. Or It gets at least 6% valid votes in Lok Sabha election from that state and wins at least one Lok Sabha seat. Or It wins at least 3% seats in the State Assembly or at least three seats, whichever is more. Or It gets at least 8% valid votes in the state in Lok Sabha or Assembly elections. Registered Unrecognised Political Parties – RUPP These are parties that:

Have not secured enough votes or seats for recognition Or Have never contested elections after registration

14. Challenges to Free and Fair Elections Conducting elections in India is a very challenging task because India has a huge number of voters, polling stations, political parties, and candidates. In 2024, India had over 96.8 crore eligible voters. Main Challenges Some challenges to free and fair elections are: Misinformation Fake news Voter intimidation Money power Misuse of muscle power Appeals based on caste, religion, community, or language Accessibility problems for elderly and disabled voters Violation of Model Code of Conduct Measures to Overcome Challenges The ECI uses several measures to deal with these challenges: Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951 Model Code of Conduct EVMs VVPAT

Voter awareness campaigns Security arrangements Digital complaint systems like cVIGIL Active citizen participation and constant vigilance are necessary to make elections more representative and democracy stronger.

Summary of the Chapter The chapter “Elections” explains that elections are the foundation of democracy. Through elections, citizens choose their representatives and hold them accountable. Elections give people an equal voice and make the government legitimate. India conducts direct elections for the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Panchayats, and Municipal bodies, while elections to the President, Vice President, and Rajya Sabha are indirect. India mainly follows the First-Past-The-Post system for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. Under this system, the candidate with the highest number of votes wins. Some elections, such as those for the Rajya Sabha and President, use Proportional Representation. The election process in India is governed by laws such as the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Representation of the People Act, 1951. These laws deal with electoral rolls, delimitation, nomination, campaigns, voting procedures, disputes, and corrupt practices. The Delimitation Commission fixes constituency boundaries to ensure equal representation. The Election Commission of India is

an autonomous constitutional body responsible for conducting free and fair elections. It prepares electoral rolls, decides election schedules, registers political parties, allocates symbols, and ensures fair voting. Political parties play an important role by presenting policies, organising public opinion, contesting elections, forming governments, and acting as opposition. India has a multi-party system, which reflects the country’s diversity. The chapter also explains the Anti-Defection Law, criteria for recognising national and state parties, and challenges to free and fair elections such as misinformation, fake news, intimidation, and misuse of money power. Overall, the chapter teaches that elections are not only about voting; they are about equality, representation, accountability, fairness, and active citizenship.

The Big Questions 1. Why are elections essential to a democratic system? Answer: 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.

2. How do electoral systems and rules shape political representation and fairness? Answer: 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.

3. What role do institutions and laws play in ensuring free and fair elections? Answer: 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.

4. What challenges do elections face in practice, and how can these challenges affect democracy? Answer: 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.

LET’S EXPLORE – Page 165 Different democracies use different electoral systems. Prepare a case study on six countries. Answer: 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.

DON’T MISS OUT – Page 166 Why was there a long interval between the Delimitation Commissions of 1973 and 2002? Answer: 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.

THINK ABOUT IT – Page 168 How can a person register as a voter after turning 18? Answer: 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.

LET’S EXPLORE – Page 168 1–2. What is ETPBS and who can use it? Answer: 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.

LET’S MAP – Page 173 2. Compare policy preferences of two political parties in the last 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.

LET’S EXPLORE – Page 176 Find out the number of State parties and Registered Unrecognised Political Parties. Answer: 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.

LET’S EXPLORE – Page 177 Alliances that won Lok Sabha elections Answer: 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 Alliance Major National Parties / Year Regional Parties / Won Groups Allies

Bharatiya Lok Dal, Janata Party Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Akali Dal and other 1977 / Janata Congress (O), Socialist anti-Congress Alliance groups, Congress for regional allies 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 Alliance Major National Parties / Year Regional Parties / Won Groups 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.

LET’S ANALYSE – Page 178 What are more challenges to free and fair elections, and how can we overcome them? Answer: 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.

Questions and Activities – Answers

1. What reforms have been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive? a. People with Disabilities Answer: 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.” b. Service Voters Answer: 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. c. Senior Citizens — 60 years and above; and 80/85 years and above Answer: 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. d. Prisoners Answer: 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. e. Persons in Preventive Detention Answer: 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.

2. What are the various functions of the Election Commission of India? Which is most important? Answer: 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.

3. Elections are the soul of a democracy. Do you agree? Answer: 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.

4. Explain at least three differences between national and state/regional political parties. Answer: 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.

5. Why should you vote? Arrange in descending order of your choice. Answer: My descending order is: 1. Strengthens democracy 2. Opportunity to choose my representative 3. Opportunity to change the non-performing representative 4. Makes me a responsible person Voting strengthens democracy because it allows citizens to participate in government formation. It gives people a direct opportunity to choose representatives who can work for public welfare. Voting also helps remove leaders who do not perform well. Finally, voting makes a citizen responsible because it shows awareness towards rights, duties, and the future of the country.

6. What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative of the ECI? Answer: 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.

Political Party Symbol

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Broom

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lotus

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Elephant

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Hammer, Sickle and [CPI(M)] Star

Indian National Congress (INC) Hand

National People’s Party (NPP) Book

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

8. Case Study Answers a. What initiatives were taken by the ECI to enable the voters to cast their vote? Answer: 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.

b. Which other valid document might Ishani be carrying? Answer: 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.

c. Cite examples of violations of the Model Code of Conduct. Answer: 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.

d. Give a suitable title to the passage. Answer: A suitable title can be: “Ishani’s First Voting Experience” Another suitable title can be: “Inclusive and Transparent Voting in India”

e. How do police and army personnel cast their votes? Answer: 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.

9. Comparative Chart of Three Countries a. Difference between voting right in a multi-party system and a single-party system

Answer: 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. b. In which country would you like to stay and why? Answer: 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.

10. What are the challenges to conducting free and fair elections? Answer: 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.

11. On the Stage – Role Play for School Elections Answer: 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.

12. Video or Audio Topics Answer: 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.

13. 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 9 women who contested from 9 women candidates candidates AAP

Number of women 8 women elected 1 woman elected

Delhi Assembly Delhi Assembly Point of Comparison Election 2020 Election 2025

candidates elected from AAP

In 2020, AAP won a large majority with 62 seats and 53.57% vote share. In 2025, AAP’s performance declined to 22 seats and 43.57% vote share. For women’s representation, AAP fielded nine women candidates in both elections, but the number of women winners fell from eight in 2020 to one in 2025.

14. Do you think ‘One Nation, One Election’ can improve the efficiency of the electoral process? Answer: 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.