Electoral Politics

Electoral Politics

Who can stand for elections?

Every adult citizen of the country has the right to vote.Every vote has the same value.

The Voter's List

In a democratic election, the list of those who are eligible to vote is prepared much before the election and given to everyone. This list is officially called the Electoral Roll and is commonly known as the Voters’ List

The principle behind the Voter's List

it is linked to the first condition of a democratic election: everyone should get an equal opportunity to choose representatives.  

It means that everyone should have one vote and each vote should have equal value. No one should be denied the right to vote without a good reason. 

EPIC

• The Voter's List is updated every 5 years.

•  A new system of Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC] has been introduced. The government has tried to give this card to every person on the voters list. The voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote.

Who can stand for elections?

• A candidate's the minimum age has to be 25 years for the Lok Sabha elections and 30 years for the Rajya Sabha one.

• He/ She must be a citizen of India

• There are some other restrictions on criminals etc

What is a ticket?

Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol.Party’s nomination is often called party ‘ticket’.

Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form’ and give some money as ‘security deposit’.

The Supreme Court Order

• Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of :

• Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate;

• Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family; and

•  Educational qualifications of the candidate.

Multiple Choice

When will you be able to vote?

• when I am 18 years old

• When I become the citizen of the country

• When I am free from all criminal charges

• When I complete my graduation

Multiple Choice

If you want to stand for the Rajya Sabha elections what should be your qualification ?

• I must have completed my graduation

• I must be specialised in some field of study

• I may pr may not be a citizen of the country

• I should have completed 30 years.

Multiple Choice

The Electoral Roll is important because

• it tells us if we are eligible to vote or not

• Names can be deleted

• new names can be added

• it fulfils the principle that every vote in the country has the same value.

Multiple Select

The order of the Supreme Court to all ticket holders must include their

• graduation certificate

• their criminal records

• their social media addresses

• the total number of houses and property they may have

Multiple Select

If I don't have an EPIC i can show the following as proof of my identity

• Driver's licence

• passport

• credit card

• school ID Card