Identify the fair and the unfair electoral practices among the following:

a) A minister flags off a new train in his constituency a week before polling day.

b) A candidate promises that she will get a new train for her constituency if she is elected.

c) Supporters of a candidate take the voters to a temple and make them take an oath that they will vote for him.

d) The supporters of a candidate distribute blankets in slums in return for a promise for vote.

Why does the Election Commission have so much power? Is this good for democracy?

Read these headlines carefully and identify which powers are used by the Election Commission in each instance to ensure free and fair elections.

EC issues notification constituting $14$^th Lok Sabha                           

EC Shoots down HM advice on poll reforms

Photo I-Cards not mandatory in Bihar Polls

EC accepts new Haryana DGP

EC will seek power to censure political ads

EC says no immediate plan to ban exit polls

EC orders repoll in $398$ more booths

EC to keep closer eye on hidden poll costs

EC tightens norms for poll expenses

EC to visit Gujarat again, review poll arrangements

HC asks EC to bar "Criminal Netas"

The leader coming out of a press conference said: “What was the need to say that we have distributed tickets only amongst suitable and winnable family relations?”

Do you think that family politics is confined to only a few states or parties?

Titled ‘Electoral Campaigns’, this cartoon was drawn in the Latin American context. Does this apply to India and to other democracies in the world?

Is this an accurate picture of what happens to the voter before and after elections? Must this always happen in a democracy? Can you think of examples when this did not happen?

Here are some facts about the Indian elections. Comment on each of these to say whether they reflect the strength or the weakness of our electoral system:

(a) The 16th Lok Sabha has $12$ percent women members.

(b) The Election Commission often refuses to accept the government’s advice about when the election should be held.

(c) The $16$th Lok Sabha has more than $440$ members whose assets are more than Rs.$1$ crore.

(d) After losing an election, the Chief Minister said: “I respect the people’s verdict”.