Surekha is an officer-in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state. Describe what should she focus on about the following stage of the election:
- Counting day
Important Questions on Electoral Politics
The table below gives the proportion of different communities among the candidates who won elections to the US Congress. Compare these to the proportion of these communities in the population of the US.
Based on this, would you suggest a system of reservations in the US Congress? If yes, why and for which communities? If no, why not?
Proportion of the community(in percent)
| Population Proportion | Population of US | Population of US |
| Black | ||
| Hispanic | ||
| White |
Can we draw the following conclusions from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for the given statement.
The Election Commission of India does not have enough powers to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
Can we draw the following conclusion from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for the given statement.
- There is a high level of popular participation in the elections in our country.
Can we draw the following conclusion from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for the given statement.
- It is very easy for the party in power to win an election.
Can we draw the following conclusion from the information given in this chapter? Give two facts to support your position for the given statement.
- Many reforms are needed to make our elections completely free and fair.
Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case?
During an election in Nigeria, the officer in charge of counting votes deliberately increased the votes of one candidate and declared him elected. The court later found out that more than five lakh votes cast for one candidate were counted in favour of another.
Here are some reports of electoral malpractices from different parts of the world. Is there anything that these countries can learn from India to improve their elections? What would you suggest in each case?
a) Just before elections in Fiji, a pamphlet was distributed warning voters that a vote for former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry will lead to bloodshed. This was a threat to voters of Indian origin.
b) In the US, each state has its method of voting, its procedure of counting, and its authority for conducting elections. Authorities in the state of Florida took many controversial decisions that favoured Mr. Bush in the presidential elections in 2000. But no one could change those decisions.
