Social Sciences: Class 8 — Chapter 5: Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System

Introduction: The Big Questions

What is universal adult franchise?
What is an electoral system?
How does India’s electoral system work?

5.1 Universal Adult Franchise

The Constitution makers decided that universal adult franchise would be a feature of Indian democracy right from the outset. This means that every adult citizen gets one vote, and all votes have equal value.

Core Concepts & Definitions

Franchise (or suffrage): A right granted by the constitution or government to vote in elections.
Universal Adult Franchise: Every Indian citizen aged 18 and above has the right to vote, irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion, gender, education, income, etc. (Article 326 of the Constitution).
Constituency: An area whose voters elect a representative to a legislative body.
Voting Age Reform: India changed the minimum age for voting from 21 to 18 in 1988.

Importance of Universal Franchise

Universal franchise is a cornerstone of Indian democracy because it:

Fosters civic engagement: People participate in solving problems in their area.
Ensures equality: Everyone is equal with no discrimination based on caste, creed, sex, education, or wealth.
Empowers voices: Everyone's voice matters, and all can participate in deciding the nation's future.
Holds representatives accountable: Elected representatives are answerable to the electorate, and people can vote them out in elections.
Provides self-determination: Gives power to determine one's own future.

5.2 Bridging Barriers: Ensuring Universal Franchise

Democracy thrives when every eligible citizen can freely and fairly participate in the electoral process. The Election Commission of India (ECI) takes innovative accessibility measures to ensure no voter is left behind.

Geographic Diversity: Electoral officials travel to remote locations to ensure every citizen can exercise their democratic right.
Inclusivity Measures: In 2024, home voting was introduced for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Assistive Technologies: Braille-enabled voter cards, postal voting, and app-based requests for assistance (wheelchairs and ramps) are provided.

5.3 Case Study: Class Representative Election

An illustration of the democratic process through a classroom election at Suryodaya School:

Candidates: Ahmed (promised cleanliness), Gurmat (proposed peer coaching), and Ravi (proposed arts curriculum).
Campaigning: Candidates used posters, noticeboards, and performances to promote their ideas.
Voting Day: Conducted via a secret ballot to ensure privacy and fairness. A braille ballot paper was provided for a visually impaired student.
Results: Out of 33 votes, Gurmat won with 12 votes (Ahmed got 8, Ravi got 10, and 1 ballot was invalid). This demonstrates how a candidate can win without securing 50% of the total votes.
NOTA (None Of The Above): An option allowing voters to reject all candidates if they are not satisfied with any of them.

5.4 The Role of the Election Commission of India (ECI)

The ECI is an independent constitutional body established in 1950, responsible for conducting free and fair elections in India.

Structure of the ECI

National Level: Chief Election Commissioner and Two Election Commissioners.
State/UT Level: Chief Electoral Officer.
District Level: District Election Officer, assisted by the Returning Officer (RO) who conducts elections, and the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) who manages the voter list.

Key Tasks of the ECI

Setting election dates.
Registering political parties.
Enforcing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Overseeing the entire electoral process.

Scale of Indian Elections

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections involved:

About 980 million eligible voters.
543 parliamentary constituencies.
Over 1 million polling stations.
Constituency Reservation: 84 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and 47 for Scheduled Tribes (ST) to ensure fair representation.

5.5 Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines followed to ensure free and fair elections, listing the dos and don'ts for leaders, political parties, and candidates.

Key Elements:
- The party in government cannot use government resources (vehicles, machinery, or personnel) for election campaigns. No new schemes or projects can be announced during this period to influence voters.
- Candidates must exercise restraint to ensure peaceful elections.
- Influencing voters through gifts, money, or liquor is strictly prohibited and punishable.
Historical Note: First adopted in Kerala in 1960, circulated nationally in 1962, and proactively enforced since 1991 (notably under Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan).

5.6 Understanding Elections in India: An Overview

1. Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies

Lok Sabha (National Level): The country is divided into 543 constituencies. Elected representatives are called Members of Parliament (MPs).
State Legislative Assemblies (State Level): Elected representatives are called Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
Electoral System: India uses the First-Past-the-Post system, where the candidate receiving the most votes in a constituency wins, even if they do not secure a majority of the total votes cast.
Government Formation: The party or coalition (a group of two or more parties working together) winning a majority of seats forms the government. The leader becomes the Prime Minister (national level) or Chief Minister (state level).

2. Election to the Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

Indirect Elections: Members are elected by the elected MLAs of the states, not directly by the citizens.
Composition: Out of 245 members, 233 are elected by MLAs, and 12 are nominated by the President of India. Seat allocation is based on state population.
Permanent House: The Rajya Sabha is never dissolved. Members serve a 6-year term, with one-third of the members retiring every two years.
Voting System: Uses the single transferable vote system.

3. Election of the President and Vice President of India

President of India: Elected indirectly by an Electoral College consisting of elected MPs (from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and elected MLAs (from states and UTs of Delhi and Puducherry). Nominated members and MLCs in bicameral legislatures are not involved.
Vice President of India: Elected by an electoral college consisting of both elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament. The Vice President serves as the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

5.7 Challenges and The Road Ahead

While celebrated as the world's largest democratic exercise, India's electoral system faces several challenges:

Growing influence of money in elections.
Candidates with criminal records.
Voter apathy, particularly in urban areas.
The Way Forward: Empowering voters with information, raising awareness (especially among youth), and maintaining a vigilant electorate to safeguard democracy.