Chapter 7: Elections (Political Science)

a. Persons with Disabilities (PwDs):

• Saksham App for registration, finding the polling station and requesting help (wheelchair, transport).
• EVMs with Braille signs, ramps, wheelchairs and volunteers at polling stations; priority entry.
• Voting from home for PwDs with 40% benchmark disability (extended across India in the 2024 General Elections).

b. Service voters (members of the armed forces, central armed police forces and government staff posted outside their constituency): the ETPBS (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System) lets them receive the postal ballot electronically and vote from where they are posted (proxy voting is also available for classified service voters).

c. Senior citizens above 85: the option to vote from home (postal ballot collected by a polling team), extended across India in 2024; priority and assistance at polling stations.

d. Prisoners: under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person confined in prison (serving a sentence, or in lawful police custody as an undertrial) cannot vote. So the law does not allow them to vote; the exception is for those in preventive detention (below).

e. Persons in preventive detention: they are allowed to vote by postal ballot, because they have not been convicted of a crime.

PwDs: Saksham App, Braille EVMs, ramps and home voting; service voters: ETPBS (and proxy voting); seniors above 85: home voting; prisoners in jail cannot vote under the RPA 1951; persons in preventive detention vote by postal ballot.

Functions of the ECI (Articles 324–329):

• Prepares and updates the electoral rolls, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
• Decides the election schedule (considering weather, harvests, exams, festivals).
• Registers political parties, recognises them as national or state parties and allots symbols; settles disputes about them (quasi-judicial role).
• Enforces the Model Code of Conduct and election laws; monitors campaign expenses.
• Conducts polling and counting: polling stations, EVMs and VVPATs, security, staff.
• Declares results and handles complaints.
• Voter awareness and inclusion: National Voters' Day, apps (Voter Helpline, cVIGIL, Saksham), home voting.

Most important (one view): ensuring free and fair elections through impartial enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, together with an accurate electoral roll. Without a correct roll, eligible voters are left out or fake names are added; without enforcement of the code, money, muscle power, misuse of government machinery and appeals to religion or caste can distort the result. These functions protect equal and fair competition, which is the heart of a democratic election.

The ECI prepares voter lists, schedules elections, registers parties and allots symbols, enforces the Model Code, conducts polling and counting and declares results. Most important is ensuring free and fair conduct (accurate rolls and strict enforcement of the code), since it protects every vote's equal value.

Yes, I agree:

• Popular sovereignty: through elections the people, the real source of power, choose their government.
• Representation: elected members speak for the people of their constituencies.
• Accountability: periodic elections (every five years) let people remove non-performing governments, as in 1977 after the Emergency.
• Legitimacy: a government chosen by the people has the right to govern.
• Equality: every adult citizen's vote has equal value (universal adult franchise).
• Peaceful change of power without violence.

However, elections alone are not enough. Democracy also needs the rule of law, rights, a free press, independent courts and active citizens between elections.

Yes: elections give power to the people, ensure representation, accountability, legitimacy and equality, and allow peaceful change of government, though democracy also needs rights, rule of law and active citizens.

National parties work across many states on national issues and meet nationwide vote/seat criteria; state parties work in one state on regional issues and meet state-level criteria; their symbols are reserved nationally or only in the state.

A sample order (yours may differ, with reasons):

1. (d) Strengthens democracy: democracy works only when citizens take part; high turnout gives the government a stronger mandate. 2. (a) Opportunity to choose my representative: my vote decides who will speak for my area and my concerns. 3. (c) Opportunity to change the non-performing representative: voting holds leaders accountable; if they fail, we can vote them out. 4. (b) Makes me a responsible person: voting is a civic duty; it makes me take interest in public issues.

For example: (d) strengthens democracy, (a) choose my representative, (c) remove non-performers, (b) makes me responsible; any order is fine if well reasoned.

SIR is a thorough, door-to-door exercise by the ECI to update, verify and correct the electoral rolls (voter lists) of a constituency or state. Officials visit households to check who is eligible.

Objectives:

• Include every eligible citizen, especially young voters who have just turned 18 and might be left out.
• Remove ineligible names: voters who have died, shifted residence, or are enrolled twice (duplicate enrolment), or who are not eligible.
• Correct errors in names, addresses and other details.

Why it is necessary:

• People move, die or turn 18 all the time, so rolls quickly become outdated.
• An accurate roll prevents bogus voting and ensures no eligible voter is denied the right to vote.
• It builds trust in elections and is the base of free and fair polls.

SIR is a special, intensive door-to-door revision of voter lists to add all eligible voters (especially new 18-year-olds) and remove dead, shifted, duplicate or ineligible names; it is needed to keep rolls accurate, prevent bogus voting and ensure no eligible citizen is left out.

AAP: broom; BJP: lotus; BSP: elephant; CPI(M): hammer, sickle and star; INC: hand; NPP: book.

a. ECI initiatives in the case:

• Online voter registration (Ishani registered through the ECI portal/Voter Helpline).
• Wheelchair and volunteers for her disabled brother (accessibility for PwDs).
• Police security at the polling station for safe, peaceful voting.
• Alternative identity documents accepted.
• VVPAT, so she could verify her vote.
• Home voting for her 89-year-old grandmother (senior citizens above 85).

b. Any of the alternative photo identity documents allowed by the ECI, for example: passport, driving licence, PAN card, bank or post office passbook with photograph, MGNREGA job card, service identity card with photo issued by a government or PSU, pension document with photograph, health insurance smart card, or a Unique Disability ID (UDID) card.

c. Violations of the Model Code of Conduct:

• Campaigning the day before polling: groups distributing pamphlets and raising slogans. Campaigning must stop 48 hours before polling closes (the "silence period").
• Wall writing and posters pasted everywhere, which is not allowed on public (or private, without permission) property.
• (Also, the polling booth had only three people doing all duties, which is an irregularity in poll arrangements.)

d. Suggested titles: "My First Vote", "No Voter Left Behind", or "A Festival of Democracy".

e. Police and other personnel on election duty vote by postal ballot (they apply in advance, Form 12), or with an Election Duty Certificate at the polling station where they are on duty. Army and other service voters vote through the ETPBS (electronic postal ballot) or, for classified service voters, through a proxy appointed to vote on their behalf.

(a) Online registration, wheelchair and volunteers, police security, alternative IDs, VVPAT, home voting for 85+. (b) e.g. passport, driving licence, PAN card or other ECI-approved photo ID. (c) Campaigning (pamphlets, slogans) within the 48-hour silence period, and wall writing/posters everywhere. (d) "My First Vote". (e) Police: postal ballot or election duty certificate; army: ETPBS or proxy voting.

a. In a multi-party system (Country A), voting gives a real choice: voters can compare different parties and programmes, and can replace the ruling party with another, so the government is accountable. In a single-party system (Country B), the vote has little meaning: there is no alternative to choose, the same party always rules, and the opposition and dissent have no place.

b. Sample answer: Country A. Although its standard of living is only average, it is a true democracy: I would have rights, freedom of expression, a real choice in elections and the power to change the government. Prosperity without freedom (Countries B and C) can be lost, and citizens there cannot hold rulers accountable. (Give your own choice with reasons.)

(a) Multi-party voting offers real choice and accountability; single-party voting offers no alternative. (b) e.g. Country A, because democratic rights and the power to change the government matter more than a higher standard of living without freedom.

• Money power: bribing voters with cash, gifts or liquor; excessive campaign spending.
• Muscle power and intimidation: booth capturing, threats and violence.
• Misinformation and fake news, especially on social media.
• Appeals to religion, caste, community or language to win votes.
• Misuse of government machinery by the ruling party.
• Criminalisation of politics: candidates with criminal records.
• Inaccurate electoral rolls (missing or bogus names).
• Low awareness and voter apathy, and difficult access for remote, elderly or disabled voters.
• Paid news and biased media coverage.

The ECI tackles these with the RPA 1950 and 1951, the Model Code of Conduct, EVMs and VVPATs, the cVIGIL app, expenditure observers, SIR of rolls and voter awareness (SVEEP) campaigns.

Money and muscle power, fake news, communal and caste appeals, misuse of official machinery, criminal candidates, faulty rolls, voter apathy and paid news; the ECI counters them through laws, the Model Code, EVM–VVPAT, cVIGIL, observers and awareness drives.

Role guide for the role play:

Use a ballot box or a simple voting app, count votes in front of agents, and discuss afterwards what made the election free and fair.

Each student performs their role (schedule and rules, nominations, campaign, polling, security, counting, reporting) following a code of conduct, secret ballot and open counting.

A short script outline for "My Vote My Nation" (about 60–90 seconds):

• Hook (5 s): "One vote. 96.8 crore voters. One nation."
• Problem (15 s): some people think one vote does not matter, or do not register.
• Message (30 s): at 18, register through the Voter Helpline app; check your name in the roll; on polling day, vote without fear or inducement; use cVIGIL to report violations.
• Inclusion (15 s): home voting for 85+ and PwDs, wheelchairs and Braille EVMs.
• Call to action (10 s): recite the Voters' Pledge; "Vote. Because your voice builds the nation."

Tips: use clear audio, short scenes, captions in your language, and only correct information from the ECI.

Plan a short script with a hook, the problem, the key message (register, vote fearlessly, report violations), inclusion measures and a call to action, using accurate ECI information.

Use this format (fill in the figures from results.eci.gov.in and the party's manifesto):

Cite the source and date for each figure, then write 3–4 lines on what changed and why (e.g. a rise in vote share, how many women were given tickets).

Collect official ECI results and manifesto data for two Assembly elections, fill the comparison chart with sources, and write a short analysis of the changes.

"One Nation, One Election" means holding elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies (and possibly local bodies) at the same time.

Possible advantages:

• Saves money: one round of elections instead of many.
• Less disruption: the Model Code of Conduct would apply less often, so development work is not repeatedly halted.
• Less burden on teachers, officials and security forces repeatedly deployed for elections.
• Governments can focus on governance rather than constant campaigning.
• May increase voter turnout, as people vote once for all levels.

Possible limitations:

• Constitutional and legal changes are needed (terms of Assemblies, what to do if a government falls midway).
• Federalism concerns: national issues may overshadow state and local issues.
• Huge logistics at once: many more EVMs, VVPATs and staff at the same time.
• Less frequent accountability: voters judge governments only once in five years.
• May favour larger national parties over regional ones.

Conclude with your class's own view, giving reasons.

Advantages: lower cost, less disruption from the Model Code, less strain on staff, more focus on governance, possibly higher turnout. Limitations: constitutional changes needed, federalism concerns, huge logistics, less frequent accountability and possible advantage to national parties.