Electoral Politics Class 9 Notes: CBSE Civics Chapter 3

Why Do We Need Elections?

• Election is a tool or a mechanism adopted by many countries, through which people choose their representatives. In the world, more than 100 countries conduct elections. The process of selection of representatives at regular intervals is known as election.

• The election is necessary because:

1. Citizens of that country can independently select the person who is going to make important decisions and shape the future.

2. To maintain a peaceful environment in the country, by making and implementing good policies and laws.

3. It guarantees that no government is elected for an indefinite period.

4. It helps citizens of the country to engage themselves in their country’s betterment.

What Makes an Election Democratic?

• The minimum required conditions for a democratic election are:

1. Everyone should be able to vote with equal value.

2. Parties and their candidates shall offer real choices to their voters and should contest elections.

3. The choices need to be offered at regular intervals, that is, elections should be conducted after every few years.

4. Only that should be elected which is preferred by the people of that country.

5. Elections need to be conducted in a free and fair manner, keeping people’s wishes as the priority.

Is it Good to Have Political Competition?

• Yes, political competition is good, due to the following reasons:

1. If there is no competition among several candidates, then the election becomes pointless.

2. Political leaders get motivated by a desire to do something in their political country.

3. It provides incentives to the political leaders and their parties.

What is Our System of Elections?

• After every 5 years, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly. The term of the elected representative ends after every 5 years. Elections are held in all the constituencies within a few days, this is called general elections.

Electoral Constituencies 

• Our country is divided into different areas, to conduct elections, this is called electoral constituencies. Voters elect one representative living in an area.

• For Lok Sabha, the country is divided into 543 constituencies. 

• Representatives elected from each constituency are called Members of Parliament (MP).

• Each state is divided into a specific number of Assembly constituencies, and the representative elected here is called a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).

• Each town or village is divided into many wards like constituencies. Each ward elects one member of the village.

Reserved Constituencies 

• Constitution makers have made a special system for reserved constituencies for backward sections.

• In Lok Sabha, 84 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 47 seats for Scheduled Tribes.

• In various states, seats for other backward classes and women as well in the rural and urban areas.

Voters List 

• A list of those who are eligible to vote in a democratic election is prepared, this list is called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voter’s list.

• Citizens who are above 18 years of age are eligible to vote.

• Irrespective of their religion, caste, or gender, everyone is allowed to give their vote.

Nomination of Candidates 

• Any citizen who wants to be a candidate needs to have a minimum age of 25 years, for voting minimum age required is 18 years.

• If anyone has a criminal background, then there are restrictions but it is applicable in very extreme cases.

• Those who get the party's nomination are called party ‘ticket’.

• According to the direction of the Supreme Court, every candidate now has to make a legal declaration, details:

(i) Any serious case pending against the candidate.

(ii) Complete details of assets and liabilities of the candidates and his/her family

(iii) Educational qualifications.

Election Campaign 

Campaigns are held so that people get a chance to get to know their prospective candidates, which will help them to understand more about the ideas and the commitments they will fulfil after becoming the representative.

• During the campaign, candidates contact their voters.

• Political parties advertise in the media and newspapers to promote their candidates.

• The campaign takes place for more than 2 weeks.

• Political parties try every possible way to attract the public by focusing their attention on some issues in society.

• According to election law, no candidate or party can:

1. Give bribes or attempt to threaten voters.

2. Attract the voters in the name of religion or caste.

3. Using government resources for election campaigns.

4. Use of a place of worship.

• Some of the popular slogans used by parties are:

1. Garibi Hatao (Remove poverty).

2. Save Democracy.

3. Land to the Tiller.

4. Protect the Self-Respect of the Telugu.

Polling and Counting of Votes 

• The day when voters cast their vote is called election day.

• Voters have their name on the voter's list and go to a nearby ‘polling booth’ where election officials identify the person and put a mark on the finger before casting their vote.

• Earlier ballot paper system was used, where on a sheet of paper the names of candidates and their parties were listed.

• Now, Electronic voting machines (EVM) are used to record votes. This machine shows the names of the candidates and party symbols.

What Makes Elections in India Democratic?

a) Independent Election Commission 

• In India, elections are conducted by the Election Commission (EC), it is independent and it has its own Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) appointed by the President.

• EC can make decisions on the conduct and control of elections from the announcement of elections to the declaration of results.

• It implements a code of conduct and can punish any party or candidate who violates it.

• EC orders the government to issue guidelines to prevent any misuse of government power.

• On election day, officials work under the control of the EC.

b) Popular participation 

• The participation of people shows us that elections are being conducted in a free and fair manner.

• In India, illiterate, underprivileged, and low-income groups of people vote in large numbers compared to rich people.

• The interest of voters in elections has significantly increased in recent years.

c) Challenges to free and fair elections 

• Overall, in India, elections are effectively free and fair. Few candidates might win purely based on money and power.

• Candidates with lots of money may not have a guarantee to secure victory.

• In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connections try to push other desirable candidates out of the electoral race to secure a ticket.

• Tickets are being distributed to relatives and family friends.

Popular Participation

The effectiveness of the election process can be assessed by examining voter participation rates. Voter turnout measures the percentage of eligible voters who cast their ballots.

In India, poorer, less educated, and underprivileged individuals tend to vote in higher proportions compared to wealthier and more privileged groups. Many ordinary citizens believe that voting allows them to influence political parties to adopt policies and programs that benefit them. Over time, there has been a growing interest among voters in election-related activities.

Acceptance of Election Outcome

A key indicator of the fairness and freedom of an election is the acceptance of its results. In India, it is common for ruling parties to lose elections at both the national and state levels. In contrast, in the US, incumbent representatives seldom lose their positions. In India, approximately half of the sitting MPs and MLAs lose their reelection bids. Candidates who spend excessively on vote-buying or who have criminal backgrounds often face defeat. Generally, the outcomes of elections are accepted as the people's verdict by the losing parties, with only a few elections being contested.

Challenges to Free and Fair Elections

While elections in India are largely free and fair, there are notable challenges and limitations:

• Financial Advantage: Candidates and parties with substantial financial resources often have an unfair advantage over smaller parties.

• Criminal Influence: Candidates with criminal connections sometimes manage to secure nominations from major parties, sidelining other contenders.

• Nepotism: There are instances of party tickets being given to family members rather than to candidates based on merit.

• Limited Choices: Major parties often have similar policies and practices, reducing the real choices available to ordinary voters.

• Disadvantages for Smaller Parties: Smaller parties and independent candidates face significant hurdles compared to larger, established parties.

Some Important Questions For the Chapter 3 Electoral Politics 

Q1. What are the advantages of electoral competition?

Ans: Advantages of electoral competition are:

(i) Candidates from major political parties are motivated to enhance their political careers as professionals.

(ii) The hunger for coming into power and maintaining the position motivates them to give their best in campaigns and get support from people.

Q2. Why do electoral campaigns need regulation?

Ans: The Election Commission (EC), needs to regulate the electoral campaign to ensure that every political party and the candidate which is listed gets a fair and equal chance in elections.

No candidate or party can;

(i) Threaten or bribe the voters.

(ii) Seeking votes from the public in the name of religion or caste.

(iii) Using government resources.

Q3. “We get to read a lot about unfair practices in elections”. Give some examples.

Ans: Malpractices involved in election are:

(i) Exclusion of names of the genuine voters in the voter’s list and inclusion of bogus names.

(ii) Usage of government resources and officials.

(iii) Rich candidates and parties use lots of money to give bribes and buy votes.

(iv) Rigging on election day.

Q4. How can we say that elections are expensive?

Ans: Every 5 years when the election is conducted, a huge sum of money is spent on conducting. Example: In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, approx. 3500 crores were spent by the government. The candidates and parties spend individually compared to what the government spends on campaigns. In a developing country like India, where we have elections every 5 years, it looks like a burden to citizens who are paying taxes. Since money is extracted from this tax only.

Q5. What are the new trends in the people’s participation during Indian elections?

Ans: Voter turnout figures are used to determine and estimate people’s participation. The turnout is the total percentage of eligible voters who gave their vote. In India, turnouts have either gone up or have been stable.

• Unlike in Western democracies, underprivileged and poor vote mainly in India compared to educated and rich people.

• Elections have given a lot of importance to common people in India.

• More than half of the people have shown interest in the election since 2004.

Q6. What are the basic conditions of democratic elections?

Ans: The minimum conditions required for a democratic election are as follows:

• Every vote should be given equal value and everyone should have the right to vote.

• Elections must be held at regular intervals.

• The candidate who is selected should be of people’s choice.

• Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner.

Q7. Mention the different methods of voting.

Ans: Two different methods of voting are:

(i) Ballot Paper: A ballot paper is a sheet of paper in which the names of parties and candidates along with their symbols are listed. Simply by putting a stamp on the desired symbol the voter gives his/her choice.

(ii) Electronic Voting: Electronic voting machines show the names of candidates along with party symbols with a button. After pressing the button the voter can choose the candidate of their wish.

Q8. Mention some successful slogans used for elections.

Ans: Successful slogans used during the election campaign are:

(i). Garibi Hatao (Remove poverty): The Congress party which was led by Indira Gandhi used this slogan in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections.

(ii). Save Democracy: The Janta party used this slogan in the 1977 Lok Sabha election. 

(iii). Land to the Tiller: The Left Front used this slogan in the West Bengal Assembly elections in 1997.

(iv). Protect the Self-Respect of the Telugu: This slogan was used by N. T. Rama Rao, who was the leader of the Telugu Desam Party in the 1983, Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.

Q9. What do you understand by rigging?

Ans: Rigging is observed when a candidate or a party operates malpractices to increase its votes in an election.

5 Important Topics of Political Science Class 9 Chapter 3 You Shouldn’t Miss!

Importance of Chapter 3 Electoral Politics Class 9 Revision Notes 

• They break down intricate topics into clear, manageable summaries, making it easier to understand and recall key concepts.

• Regularly reviewing revision notes helps reinforce learning and improves long-term memory retention of the material.

• Consolidating essential points in one place allows for efficient review, saving time compared to sifting through textbooks and class notes.

• They highlight the most important information and concepts, ensuring you focus on what is most relevant for exams.

• Revision notes are ideal for quick last-minute reviews before exams, helping to refresh your memory on crucial topics.

Tips for Learning the Class 9 Civics Chapter 3 Electoral Politics

• Familiarise yourself with the complete electoral process, including how candidates are nominated, the voting process, and the role of constituencies.

• Learn about the functions of political parties, their role in elections, and how they influence governance. Pay attention to how parties campaign and mobilise voters.

• Understand the responsibilities of the Election Commission, including how it ensures free and fair elections, manages the electoral roll, and addresses electoral issues.

• Get clear on the different types of elections such as general elections, state elections, and by-elections, and know their distinct processes and significance.

• Be aware of common challenges such as electoral fraud, voter apathy, and the impact of money and media on elections. Understanding these issues helps in grasping the complexities of electoral politics.

Conclusion

Class 9 Civics Chapter 3 Notes of Electoral Politics, provides an essential understanding of the democratic process through elections. This chapter highlights the intricate workings of the electoral system, the pivotal role of political parties, and the important functions of the Election Commission in ensuring fair and transparent elections. By examining various types of elections and addressing challenges in electoral politics, students gain a comprehensive view of how elections shape governance and democracy.

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