BAL BHARATI PUBLIC SCHOOL, PITAMPURA, DELHI – 110034

CLASS_IX

SUBJECT: Political Science

CHAPTER:- ELECTORAL POLITICS

WEEK- 20th December to 24th December

No.of Blocks-2

SUBTOPICS_
1.Need for elections
2.Election Process

Instructional Aids- NCERT pdf, You tube videos, Flow charts, concept map

Web Link of the chapter- https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?iess4=3-5

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h4eBSAZleik
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7RZBnlpveco
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YQb9w1gRSQQ

Learning Outcomes: Each student will be able to

Anayze the need for elections in a democracy

What are elections

Mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and
change them if they wish to do so. This mechanism is called election.
WHY DO WE NEED ELECTIONS?

Elections are a democratic way of selecting representatives.

They ensure that the representatives rule as per the wishes of the people.

Elections help voters to choose representatives who will make laws for them, form the
government and take major decisions.

The voters can choose the party whose policies will guide the government.

A state would face anarchy without elections.

No stable and welfare state would exist without elections

An autocracy, monarchy or dictatorship would prevail without elections

First, everyone should be able to choose. This means that everyone should have one
vote and every vote should have equal value.

Second, there should be something to choose from. Parties and candidates should be
free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voter.

Third ,the choice should be offered at regular intervals. Elections must be held
regularly after every few years.

Fourth ,the candidate preferred by the people should get elected.

Fifth ,elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can
choose as they really wish.
Is it good to have political competition?

Demerits
1. It creates a sense of disunity and factionalism in every locality.
2. Different political parties and leaders often level allegations against one
another.
3. Parties and candidates often use dirty tricks to win elections.

MERIT

Political competition may cause divisions and some ugliness,but it finally helps to
force political parties and leaders to serve the people.

DIFFERENT STAGES OF AN ELECTION IN INDIA

ELETORAL CONSTITUENCIES

First of all,the whole country is divided into different areas for purpose of
elections.These areas are called electoral constituencies
The voters who live in an area elect one representative.

VOTERS LIST
Once the constituencies are decided,the next step is to decide who can and who
cannot vote.In a democracy,the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much
before the election and given to everyone.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a nomination form by the
due date,which the election commission fixes.Every candidate has to give some
money as security deposit alongwith nomination form.

ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Election campaigns take place for a two week period between the announcement of
the final list of candidates and the date of polling.During this period,the candidates
contact their voters,political leaders address election meetings and political parties
mobilise theie supporters.

POLLING AND COUNTING OF VOTES

The final stage of an election is when the voters cast or poll their votes.That day is
called the election day.Every person whose name is on the voters list can go to a
nearby polling booth.Once the voter gets inside the booth,the election officials
identify him,put a mark on his finger and allow him to cast his vote.There are
electronic voting machines(EVMs) which are used to record votes.The machine
shows the names of the candidates and the party symbols.What the voter has to do is
to press the button against the name of the candidate he wants to give his vote.Once
the polling is over,all the EVMS are sealed and taken to a secure place.On a fixed
date,all the EVMs from a constituency are opened and the votes secured by each
candidate are counted.The candidate who secures the highest no. of votes from a
constituency is declared elected.
ASSIGNMENT

Assertion (A) Reserved Constituencies were created for the weaker sections- for the SCs and STS

Reason(R) The Constitution makers were worried that in an open electoral competition, certain
weaker sections do not stand a good chance to get elected to the Lok Sabha.

A) A is true ,R is false
B) A is false, R is true
C) Both A and R are true but Ris not the correct explanation of A
D) Both A and R are true And R is the correct explanation of A

Assertion(A) Common people pay a lot of importance to elections

Reason R Elections can bring pressure on political parties to adopt policies favourable to the
people

A) A is true ,R is false
B) A is false, R is true
C) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
D) Both A and R are true And R is the correct explanation of A

Assertion A People can sit together and take all the decisions

Reason R Elections are always fought by independent candidates

A) A is true ,R is false
B) A is false, R is true
C) Both A and R are true but Ris not the correct explanation of A
D) Both A and R are true And R is the correct explanation of A

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India?

a. The Chief Justice of India

b. The Prime Minister of India

c. The President of India

d. The Law Minister of India

2. On what basis do the voters generally choose their representatives?

a. They can choose who will make laws for them,

b. They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.

c. They can choose the party whose policies will guide the government and law making

d. All

3. Party’s nomination is often called

a. Permit
b. Pass

c. Ticket

d. Token

Answer in 3-4 lines

Q1. Is there a democratic way of selecting representatives without elections?

Q2.How do we distinguish democratic elections from any other election? Give examples.

Q3.Why do the candidates nominating their names for elections required to give a detailed
statement of their property?

Q4.Are election campaigns necessary for democracy? Discuss