Chapter - 5 “Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System” (Class - 8, New syllabus )

 Chapter - 5 

“Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System”

1. Universal Adult Franchise

• Means every citizen aged 18 and above can vote.
• No discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, gender, income, etc.
• Each person has one vote of equal value.
• It is given in Article 326 of the Constitution.

Importance:

• Promotes equality
• Gives power to people
• Strengthens democracy

2. Voter Registration

• A person must be registered in the voter list.
• Voting is done only in your constituency.
• People involved in serious crimes may be restricted.

3. Elections in India:- Elections are held for:

• Lok Sabha (Parliament)
• State Assemblies
• Local bodies (Panchayat & Municipality)
• India has very large elections (e.g., 2024 elections had ~980 million voters).

4. Role of Election Commission of India (ECI)

• Conducts free and fair elections
• Prepares voter lists
• Announces election schedule
• Ensures Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is followed
• Uses technology (EVMs, voter apps, Braille cards)
• Helps elderly & disabled voters (home voting, ramps, etc.)

5. Election Process

(1) Campaigning:- Campaigning is the process where candidates and political parties promote themselves and ask people for votes through rallies, speeches, posters, and social media.

• Political parties and candidates ask for votes
• Use rallies, speeches, posters, social media

(2) Voting Day:- Voting Day is the day when people go to polling booths and cast their vote to choose their representative. Voting is done secretly, usually using EVMs.

• People go to polling booths
• Vote using EVM (Electronic Voting Machine)
• Voting is secret

(3) Counting & Results:- Counting is the process of counting all the votes after voting ends.

The result is the final outcome, where the candidate with the highest votes is declared the winner.

Votes are counted

Candidate with highest votes wins

6. Model Code of Conduct (MCC):- The Model Code of Conduct is a set of rules that political parties and candidates must follow during elections to ensure free and fair elections.

• Set of rules for political parties during elections
• Ensures fair play
• No misuse of government power
• No hate speech or bribery

7. Coalition Government:-  A coalition government is formed when no single political party gets a majority of seats in the election, so two or more parties come together to form the government. 

• When no single party gets majority
• Two or more parties join to form government
• Common in India

Lok Sabha (Seats in Lok Sabha)

• Lok Sabha is the lower house of Parliament of India.
• It has 543 elected seats (members are called MPs – Members of Parliament).
• Each seat represents a constituency (area).
• People directly vote to elect their MP.
• Process of Lok Sabha Election

• Announcement:- Election Commission of India announces election dates.
• Nomination:- Candidates file their forms to contest elections.
• Campaigning:- Candidates ask for votes through rallies, speeches, etc.
• Voting Day:- Citizens vote using EVMs at polling booths.
• Counting & Result:- Votes are counted and the candidate with the highest votes wins and becomes MP.

MLA Election (State Assembly Election)

• MLA = Member of Legislative Assembly
• MLAs are elected for the State Legislature (Vidhan Sabha)
• Each state is divided into constituencies
• People of the state vote to elect their MLA

Process of MLA Election

• Election announced by ECI
• Candidates file nominations
• Campaigning takes place
• Voting by citizens
• Counting and declaration of winner

8. Election to Rajya Sabha

• Members are not directly elected by people
• Elected by MLAs (State legislators)
• Represents states of India

9. Election of the President:- Elected by:

• Elected MPs + MLAs
• Uses indirect election system

10. Election of the Vice President:- Elected by:

• Members of Parliament only
• Also an indirect election

11. Challenges in Elections

• Money and muscle power
• Fake news & misinformation
• Low voter turnout in some areas
• Misuse of social media

12. The Road Ahead (Future Improvements)

• Use of more technology
• Better voter awareness
• Stronger rules for fair elections
• Inclusion of all voters (disabled, remote areas)

NCERT QUESTIONS/ANSWER

Question:-1 Why is universal adult franchise important for a healthy democracy?

Answer:- Universal Adult Franchise (UAF) is the foundation of a healthy democracy because it ensures that every adult citizen (18 years and above) has the right to vote without any discrimination.

Importance of universal adult franchise

• Ensures Equality and Fairness
• Promotes Political Inclusion
• Holds Leaders Accountable
• Encourages Active Citizenship

Question:- 2 What is the meaning of ‘secret ballot’? Why is this important.

Answer:- A secret ballot is a voting system in which no one can know whom a person has voted for. The voter’s choice remains private and confidential.

It important in a democracy because:

• Freedom of choice: People can vote without fear or pressure.
• Prevents influence: No one can force or bribe voters if their vote is secret.
• Ensures fairness: Elections become free and fair.
• Protects voters: Voters are safe from threats or punishment for their choice.

Question:-3 Give examples of direct and indirect elections. 

Answer:- In direct elections, people vote directly to choose their representatives.

Examples:

• Lok Sabha elections (MPs)
• State Assembly elections (MLAs)
• Local body elections (Panchayat, Municipality)

Indirect Elections:- In indirect elections, people do not vote directly. Instead, elected representatives vote to choose leaders.

Examples:

• President of India (elected by MPs and MLAs)
• Vice President of India (elected by Members of Parliament)
• Rajya Sabha members (elected by MLAs)

Question:- 4 How is the election of members to the Lok Sabha different from that to the Rajya Sabha?

Answer:- Lok Sabha Election

• Members are directly elected by the people
• Every citizen (18+) can vote
• Elections are held constituency-wise
• Candidate with maximum votes wins
• Type: Direct Election
• Rajya Sabha Election
• Members are indirectly elected
• Elected by MLAs (State Legislative Assembly members)
• People do not vote directly
• Uses proportional representation system
• Type: Indirect Election

Question:- 5 What, in your view, are the advantages of the EVM over paper ballots? 

Answer:- Advantages of EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) over Paper Ballots:

• Faster counting: Votes are counted quickly, so results come faster.
• More accurate: Reduces chances of invalid or wrongly counted votes.
• Prevents misuse: Difficult to do booth capturing or ballot stuffing.
• Easy to use: Simple buttons make voting easy for everyone.
• Saves paper: Environment-friendly as no large number of ballot papers are needed.
• Secure system: Machines are sealed and monitored, reducing chances of fraud.
• Less manpower needed: Requires fewer officials compared to paper ballots.

Question:- 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:- Possible Reasons:

• Busy lifestyle: People in cities often have tight work schedules.
• Lack of interest: Some feel their vote will not make a difference.
• Migration: Many people live away from their registered constituency.
• Lack of awareness: Not everyone understands the importance of voting.
• Long queues or inconvenience: People avoid waiting at polling booths.
• Urban apathy: Less community connection compared to villages.

Steps to Encourage Voting:

• Awareness campaigns about importance of voting
• Easy voter registration and updating voter lists
• Online information & apps for voters
• Better facilities at polling booths (shorter queues, comfort)
• Flexible voting options (like postal voting, special arrangements)
• Youth engagement programs in schools and colleges
• Efforts by the Election Commission of India to motivate voters

Question:- 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 (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to ensure fair representation in the government.

In the past, these communities faced social discrimination and exclusion, and they had very little voice in decision-making. Reservation helps them to participate in politics and express their concerns.

It also ensures that their problems, rights, and development needs are properly addressed in Parliament. This system promotes equality and social justice, which are important values of the Indian Constitution.

Question:- 8 Social media is changing the way we experience elections — from catchy campaign reels and live speeches to political debates on Instagram and Twitter. 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:- ocial media platforms like Instagram and Twitter are changing how people experience elections. They have both benefits and challenges.

Benefits (Strengthening Democracy):

• Quick information: People get news, speeches, and updates instantly
• Greater awareness: Youth become more interested in politics
• Easy communication: Leaders can connect directly with citizens
• Wider reach: Even remote areas can access election-related content

Challenges (Causing Confusion):

• Fake news & misinformation: Wrong information spreads quickly
• Bias and propaganda: Some content may influence opinions unfairly
• Online arguments: Can create division among people
• Overload of information: Too much content can confuse voters

Future of Elections in Digital Age:

• More use of digital campaigns and online debates
• Better use of technology for voter awareness
• Stronger rules to control fake news and misuse
• Possibly online or remote voting systems (with security)

Question:-9 Visit the website https://www.indiavotes.com, and choose a parliamentary constituency election from any year and explore its results. Do the same for an assembly election in your state.

Answer:- I explored election results on the IndiaVotes website.

• Lok Sabha Election :- In one parliamentary constituency, the results showed the name of the winning candidate, their political party, total votes received, vote share percentage, and the margin of victory over other candidates.
• Assembly Election:- In a state assembly election, each constituency result included the winning MLA, party details, number of votes polled, and comparison with other candidates, along with overall voter turnout.

The website helps us understand elections clearly by showing who won, how many votes they got, and how close the competition was.