Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System

In-text Questions and Activities

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Question 1: What is universal adult franchise?

Answer: Universal adult franchise means that every adult citizen of a country has the right to vote in elections, without any discrimination based on their caste, religion, gender, or wealth. In India, every citizen who is 18 years or older can vote.

Question 2: What is an electoral system?

Answer: An electoral system is the complete process and set of rules for conducting elections in a country. It includes everything from who can vote, how elections are organized, and how the votes are counted to decide the winner.

Question 3: How does India’s electoral system work?

Answer: India’s electoral system is managed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). For elections like the Lok Sabha, the country is divided into areas called constituencies. Citizens aged 18 and above vote for a candidate in their constituency. The candidate who gets the most votes wins and becomes a Member of Parliament (MP). This system is called ‘First-Past-the-Post’. The ECI ensures these elections are free and fair for everyone.

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Question: India changed the minimum age for voting from 21 to 18 in 1988. Discuss whether this was a good move.

Answer: Changing the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1988 was a good move because it allowed more young people to participate in democracy. At 18, people are considered adults and can make important decisions. Giving them the right to vote means they can have a say in choosing the government that makes decisions about their future, like in education and jobs. This makes our democracy more inclusive and representative of the entire population.

Question: Can you calculate how long you have to wait before you can vote?

Answer: To calculate how long you have to wait to vote, you first need to know your current age. Since the voting age in India is 18, you can subtract your current age from 18. For example, if you are 13 years old now, you will have to wait for 5 more years to be able to vote (18 – 13 = 5).

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Question: In 1947, our literacy rate was about 14 per cent, only about 8 per cent among women. Some argued that the right to vote should be given only to literate people. Discuss in your group why the Constitution makers may have decided on universal franchise from the time of Independence itself.

Answer: The makers of our Constitution decided on universal adult franchise for several important reasons, even though not many people were literate at the time:

• Equality for All: They believed that every citizen is equal and should have an equal say in the country’s future, regardless of their education, wealth, or caste.
• True Democracy: A true democracy means everyone gets to participate. Limiting voting to only the educated would have left out the majority of Indians and would not have been fair.
• Wisdom of the Common Person: They had faith in the wisdom of the common person to make the right choices for the country. They believed that literacy is not the only measure of a person’s ability to understand what is good for them and their community.
• Accountability of Leaders: When everyone has the right to vote, the elected leaders are answerable to all the people, not just a small, educated group.

Question: Can you add some more? (to the mindmap on ‘Why universal adult franchise?’)

Answer: Here are two more reasons for the importance of universal adult franchise:

1. Promotes National Unity: When every citizen, from every part of the country and every community, gets to vote, it makes them feel like they are a part of the nation. It brings a sense of unity and belonging.
2. Protects Minority Rights: Universal franchise gives a voice to minority groups. Since every vote has equal value, political parties must listen to the concerns of all groups, not just the majority, to win elections.

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Question: Discuss in groups – What role do such measures (accessibility measures by ECI) play in a democracy?

Answer: Measures like home voting for the elderly and people with disabilities, postal ballots, and providing wheelchairs and ramps at polling stations play a very important role in a democracy. They ensure that every single eligible citizen gets a chance to vote, no matter their age, physical condition, or where they live. This makes our democracy truly inclusive and fair, making sure no voter is left behind.

Question: Do you know of anyone who benefited from these improved accessibility measures? How might they increase voter participation in your neighbourhood? How can technology assist?

Answer:

• You might know an elderly grandparent or a neighbour with difficulty in walking who used the home voting facility in the 2024 elections.
• These measures can increase voter participation in a neighbourhood because they make it easier for people who might otherwise find it difficult to go to the polling booth. When elderly people or those with disabilities can vote from home, they don’t have to worry about travel or waiting in long queues.
• Technology helps a lot. App-based requests for wheelchairs, braille-enabled voter cards, and the ECI website providing information for people with disabilities are great examples. In the future, technology could even make secure online voting possible, allowing even more people to vote easily from anywhere.

Question: If you have access to the internet, visit the ECI website (https://www.eci.gov.in/persons-with-disabilities). Read and identify the various interventions that the ECI has taken to facilitate voting by people with disabilities.

Answer: After visiting the ECI website, one can find several measures taken to help people with disabilities (PwD) vote easily. These include:

• Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF): Ramps, accessible toilets, and drinking water at every polling station.
• Wheelchair Facility: Option to request a wheelchair for voters who need it.
• Volunteer Assistance: Volunteers are present at polling stations to assist PwD voters.
• Braille EPIC and Ballot Papers: Voter ID cards (EPIC) and ballot papers on EVMs have Braille for visually impaired voters.
• Free Transport: Facility of free transport for PwD voters and their assistants to the polling station.
• Priority Access: PwD voters are given priority entry and don’t have to wait in the general queue.
• Home Voting: The option for persons with certain disabilities to vote from home.

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Question: About 34 per cent of eligible voters did not exercise their right to vote in the 2024 elections. Why do you think this is so? What are some challenges people face in exercising their rights?

Answer: There could be several reasons why many people did not vote:

• Apathy or Lack of Interest: Some people, especially in urban areas, might not be interested in politics or may feel that their single vote won’t make a difference.
• Barriers for Migrant Workers: People who work in a different city from where they are registered as a voter find it difficult to travel back home just to vote.
• Lack of Awareness: Some people may not be aware of the candidates or the importance of voting.
• Difficult Circumstances: On polling day, some people might be sick, have an emergency, or be unable to take a day off from work.

Some challenges people face are long queues at polling stations, difficulty in reaching the polling station if it’s far, and sometimes, not having the required ID proof.

Question: Design and conduct a short survey among adults in your family and neighbourhood to answer these questions. Analyse the data and write a report with suggestions on how it may be possible to ensure everyone votes.

Answer: Survey Report: Why People Don’t Vote

Objective: To understand the reasons for low voter turnout in our neighbourhood and suggest ways to improve it.

Methodology: We conducted a short survey with 20 adults in our family and neighbourhood.

Survey Questions:

1. Did you vote in the last election? (Yes/No)
2. If not, what was the main reason? (Options: Not interested, was out of town, couldn’t get leave from work, long queues, other)
3. What could encourage you to vote in the future?

Findings:

• Out of 20 people, 14 voted, and 6 did not.
• Among those who did not vote, 3 said they were out of town (migrant workers), 1 mentioned long queues, and 2 said they were not interested.

Suggestions to Ensure Everyone Votes:

1. Remote Voting for Migrants: The Election Commission should explore options for migrant workers to vote from the city they are working in.
2. More Polling Booths: Increasing the number of polling booths can reduce the length of queues.
3. Awareness Campaigns: More campaigns are needed, especially targeting the youth, to explain the importance of every single vote. These can be done in schools, colleges, and on social media.
4. Mobile Polling Stations: For areas with many elderly residents, mobile polling vans could be arranged to make voting more accessible.

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Question: What are the most important aspects of the election process in this caselet?

Answer: The most important aspects were:

• An independent Election Officer (Ms. Usha) to ensure fairness.
• A clear process where candidates could campaign and present their ideas.
• The use of a secret ballot, so everyone could vote privately without fear.
• Inclusive measures, like a Braille ballot paper for Neha, to ensure everyone could participate.
• A transparent counting process with a witness.

Question: Why was it important to have a secret ballot?

Answer: It was important to have a secret ballot so that no one would know who voted for whom. This ensures that students could vote for the candidate they truly wanted without any pressure or fear of upsetting their friends. It makes the election private and fair.

Question: What considerations might the students have had while exercising their choice?

Answer: The students might have considered:

• Promises of the Candidates: They would have thought about which promise was most important for the class – cleanliness (Ahmed), peer coaching (Gurmat), or more arts (Ravi).
• Trust in the Candidate: They might have voted for the person they thought was the most responsible and likely to keep their promises.
• Personal Friendship: Some students might have voted for their friends.

Question: Do you think the students have any responsibility after Gurmat was elected as the class rep? If yes, what are they?

Answer: Yes, the students still have responsibilities. They should cooperate with Gurmat and help her implement her ideas, like the peer coaching system. They should also give her feedback and hold her accountable for her promises. Ahmed and Ravi also showed good sportsmanship by offering to support her, which is a key responsibility.

Question: What was the role that Ms. Usha played? Why was it important?

Answer: Ms. Usha acted as the Election Officer. Her role was to organize the election and make sure it was conducted fairly and transparently. This was important because, without a neutral person in charge, the election could have been messy or unfair, leading to arguments. She made sure all the rules were followed.

Question: Why was it important for Ms. Usha to organise a braille ballot paper for Neha?

Answer: It was important to organize a braille ballot paper for Neha to ensure that she could also participate equally in the election process. Just like the Election Commission of India tries to make sure no voter is left behind, Ms. Usha made sure Neha’s disability did not stop her from exercising her right to vote privately and independently.

Question: What would happen if many students in the class chose not to mark a preference?

Answer: If many students chose not to mark a preference, their ballot papers would be declared invalid, just like the one ballot that was not marked. This would mean that the final winner would be decided by a much smaller number of students. The elected representative might not truly reflect the choice of the entire class, and the final result could have been different.

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Question: Identify teachers in your school or vicinity who may have performed election duty. Invite them to your class to share their experiences.

Answer: This is a classroom activity. You can ask your class teacher or principal to help you identify teachers in your school who have worked as polling officers during elections. You can then prepare a few questions to ask them, such as:

• What was your role during the election?
• What kind of training did you receive?
• What was the most challenging part of the duty?
• What was the most rewarding experience?
• How did you ensure the voting was fair and secret?

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Question: Here are a few types of complaints that the ECI handles. Why do you think these might be violations of the code of conduct?

Answer:

• Distributing sarees and appliances: This is a violation because it is like bribing voters. A candidate should win based on their ideas and work, not by giving gifts in return for votes.
• Using abusive language: This is a violation because campaigns should be respectful. Using bad language against opponents creates a negative and hostile atmosphere, which is not good for a peaceful election.
• Government officials campaigning: This is a violation because the party in power should not use government resources or officials for its election campaign. It gives them an unfair advantage over other parties.
• Finding bundles of cash in a car: This is a violation as it suggests that the money was going to be used for illegal activities, like bribing voters or other unfair practices, which is strictly against the rules.

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Question: When is the next election in the region where you are located? Is it to the state, urban local body or panchayat?

Answer: This answer depends on your specific location (state, city, or village). You can find this information by:

• Asking your parents or teachers.
• Checking the website of the Election Commission of India (ECI) or your State Election Commission (SEC).
• Following local news, which usually announces election dates. For example, if you live in a big city, the next election could be for the Municipal Corporation. If you live in a village, it could be for the Gram Panchayat.

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Question: The legislative assembly is called by several names in regional languages, for example, Vidhan Sabha and Niyama Sabha. What is it called in your state?

Answer: This answer depends on the state you live in. In most states in India, the State Legislative Assembly is called the Vidhan Sabha. For example, in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, it is called the Vidhan Sabha. You can ask your teacher what it is called in your specific state.

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Question: Who are the MP and MLA / MLAs of the constituency you are located in? Which party does each of them belong to?

Answer: The names of your MP and MLA depend on your exact residential address, as constituencies are specific geographic areas. To find out:

• Ask your parents or other elders in your family.
• You can search online on the Parliament of India website for your MP and on your State Legislative Assembly’s website for your MLA.
• When you search, you will need to enter your locality or assembly/parliamentary constituency name. The websites will show their name and the political party they belong to.

Question: What are the concerns of the MP and MLA, respectively?

Answer:

• MP (Member of Parliament): An MP represents their constituency in the Lok Sabha (the national parliament in Delhi). Their concerns are usually related to national issues like defence, railways, national highways, and laws that affect the whole country. They work on issues affecting the entire nation.
• MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly): An MLA represents their constituency in the State Legislative Assembly (in your state capital). Their concerns are focused on state-level and regional issues like local schools, hospitals, state roads, electricity, and water supply in your area. They focus primarily on regional issues.

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Question: Why do you think the above group of people (nominated members) is not involved in electing the President of India?

Answer: Nominated members are not involved in electing the President because the President is meant to be elected by representatives who have been directly chosen by the people. Members of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies (MLAs) are directly elected by citizens. Nominated members are experts in different fields appointed by the President or Governor; they are not elected by the public. Involving only elected representatives ensures that the President’s election reflects the will of the people, even if it is done indirectly.

Question: Why are the common people not involved in the election of the president?

Answer: The common people are not directly involved in electing the President of India because India has a parliamentary system of government, not a presidential one. The President is the constitutional head of the state, while the Prime Minister is the head of the government. The election is done by an electoral college (MPs and MLAs) to ensure that the President has the support of both the central and state governments, representing the entire country’s federal structure. This indirect election is considered suitable for the President’s role as a unifying figure above party politics.

Exercise Questions

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1. Why is universal adult franchise important for a healthy democracy?

Answer: Universal adult franchise is very important for a healthy democracy because:

• It ensures equality: It is based on the principle that every adult citizen is equal and has an equal right to choose their government.
• It makes the government accountable: When everyone has the right to vote, the elected leaders know they are answerable to all the people, not just a select few. They know that people can vote them out in the next election if they don’t perform well.
• It promotes participation: It encourages all citizens to take part in the political life of the country and decide the kind of future they want.

2. What is the meaning of ‘secret ballot’? Why is this important in a democracy?

Answer: A ‘secret ballot’ is a voting method where a voter’s choice is anonymous or secret. No one else knows who the person has voted for. This is very important in a democracy because it allows people to vote freely without any fear, pressure, or influence from others. It ensures that the vote is a true reflection of a person’s own choice, making the election process fair.

3. Give examples of direct and indirect elections.

Answer:

• Direct Election: This is when citizens vote directly for their representatives.
  • Example: Elections to the Lok Sabha, where we vote to choose our Member of Parliament (MP). Another example is the election to

State Legislative Assemblies, where we vote to choose our MLA.

• Indirect Election: This is when the representatives chosen by the citizens then vote to elect other officials.
  • Example: Elections to the Rajya Sabha, where the elected MLAs of each state vote to choose the Rajya Sabha members. The election of the

President of India is another example, where MPs and MLAs form an electoral college to vote for the President.

4. How is the election of members to the Lok Sabha different from that to the Rajya Sabha?

Answer: The election of members to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is different in the following ways:

Feature	Lok Sabha Election	Rajya Sabha Election
Who Votes	All eligible citizens of India aged 18 and above (Direct Election).	The elected Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) of the states (Indirect Election).
Term Length	Members (MPs) are elected for a term of 5 years.	Members (MPs) are elected for a term of 6 years.
House Dissolution	The Lok Sabha can be dissolved before its term ends.	The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house and is never dissolved. One-third of its members retire every two years.

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5. What, in your view, are the advantages of the EVM over paper ballots?

Answer: In my view, the advantages of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) over paper ballots are:

• Faster Counting: Counting votes on EVMs is much quicker than counting millions of paper ballots by hand. This allows results to be declared faster.
• Reduces Invalid Votes: In the paper ballot system, many votes were declared invalid because of wrong marking. With EVMs, you just press a button, so there are no invalid votes.
• Saves Paper: EVMs are environmentally friendly as they save a huge amount of paper that would be needed for printing ballot papers.
• Increased Security: EVMs are designed to be tamper-proof. The VVPAT system provides a paper slip to verify the vote, which adds another layer of security and transparency.

6. Voter turnout has been declining in some urban areas of India. What could be the reasons for this trend, and what steps can be taken to encourage more people to vote?

Answer: Reasons for declining voter turnout in urban areas:

• Voter Apathy: Many urban voters feel that their one vote will not make a difference or they are not interested in politics.
• Migration: Many people in cities live in rented homes and may be registered to vote in their hometowns or villages. They may not be able to travel back just to vote.
• Busy Lifestyles: People in cities often have busy schedules and may not want to spend time standing in long queues at polling stations.
• Lack of Connection: Urban voters might not feel a strong connection to the local candidates compared to voters in a village.

Steps to encourage more people to vote:

• Awareness Campaigns: The Election Commission and civil society groups can run targeted campaigns on social media, TV, and in residential societies to highlight the importance of voting.
• Easier Registration: The process of voter registration and changing one’s polling station after moving to a new address should be made simpler and fully online.
• Remote Voting: Introduce options for remote or early voting for people who cannot be physically present in their constituency on polling day.
• Better Facilities: Ensure polling stations are well-managed with shorter queues and better facilities to make the voting experience smoother.

7. Why do you think a proportion of seats in the Lok Sabha is reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes? Write a short note.

Answer: A proportion of seats in the Lok Sabha is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to ensure fair representation for these communities. Historically, these communities faced discrimination and were left behind in development. Due to social and economic disadvantages, it might be difficult for their candidates to get elected in a general constituency.

Reservation of seats ensures that members from SC and ST communities are elected to the Parliament in proportion to their population. This allows them to voice the concerns and issues of their communities at the national level and participate in the law-making process. It is a step to make our democracy more inclusive and to ensure that all sections of society have a say in the governance of the country. For the Lok Sabha, 84 seats are reserved for SC and 47 for ST candidates.

8. Social media is changing the way we experience elections. But is this strengthening democracy or confusing it? Discuss in pairs: What are the benefits, what are the challenges, and what might the future of elections be in a digital age?

Answer: Benefits of Social Media in Elections:

• Easy Information: Voters can easily get information about candidates, parties, and their manifestos through platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
• Direct Engagement: Leaders can directly communicate with voters through live speeches and posts, making politics more accessible.
• Increased Awareness: It helps in running voter awareness campaigns and encouraging young people to participate in elections.

Challenges of Social Media in Elections:

• Fake News and Misinformation: It is very easy to spread false news and rumours on social media, which can confuse voters and unfairly harm a candidate’s reputation.
• Hate Speech: Debates can become very aggressive, and people may use abusive language, which is not healthy for democracy.
• Echo Chambers: People often only see content that agrees with their existing views, which can lead to more division in society instead of healthy debate.

Future of Elections in a Digital Age: The future of elections will likely be more digital. We might see more online campaigning, digital voter registration, and maybe even secure online voting systems. However, it will be very important for the Election Commission and for us, the citizens, to be vigilant. We will need strong rules to control fake news and ensure that technology is used to make our democracy stronger and more inclusive, not to confuse or divide us. Voter education will be key to helping everyone tell the difference between real and fake information.