Page 179 - SST Class 07

members to cast vote as per their desire. However, Procedure of Elections
women have shown that they are in no way inferior
to men. They can prove better than men in almost The holding of an election involves a number of
all fields whether it is engineering, medicine, procedures in order to make them smooth.
aviation, astronomy, military or teaching. In India, the holding of elections is the
responsibility of the Election Commission. It
This is the reason that at
present, women in all announces the date of elections. Elections can be
democratic countries are held in the entire country or state at one date, or
it can be spread over a few days. The political
given the equal right to parties declare the names of the people who will
vote. In our country too, the contest from which constituency. These people are
women enjoy an equal right called candidates. Private individuals too can
to vote.
A woman casting vote become candidates and fight for elections. These
candidates file their nomination papers. If their
Info Bits nomination papers are found correct, their names
Info Bits
are printed on the ballot paper or the electronic
Democracy has become a popular form of voting machine. They are also given election
government the world over. However, there are symbols. On the date of the election, the people go
some countries where the system of power is not to the election booth and cast their votes by
democratic; it is authoritarian. People have to suffer ticking or marking on the ballot papers or pressing
at the hands of the dictators, such as in North the button on the electronic voting machine. After
Korea. In some countries, democracy does not exist the votes have been cast, the votes are taken to
in its true spirit, as in Pakistan, where elections are the counting centres, where they are counted and
held and people’s representatives rule at the mercy the results are declared.
of the military, and the military takes over the rule
at its sweet will. F ind Outind Out
Find out the name of the present Chief Election
ELECTIONS Commissioner of India.

Since all people cannot participate in the Merits of Direct Elections
government directly, they elect their
representatives who rule the country on their Since the people have to elect their
representatives directly, the candidates take care
behalf. The will of the people is manifested by
elections. It is truly said that ‘no elections, no of the people. In order to attract the voters, they
democracy’. It is this instrument through which make promises what they intend to do if elected.
The people evaluate different candidates and vote
representatives are elected or rejected. So, the
people get an opportunity to exercise their control for the candidate who is considered most suitable
for the purpose.
over the government.
Demerits of Direct Elections
Just Think! The candidates know the value of the people’s

votes, so they make tall promises, and often fail to
Why do we need elections in the country? realise the promises that
they make to the people.
Elections can be classified into two broad
They also bribe the
types—Direct Elections and Indirect Elections.
people to vote for them.
Direct Elections Many times, the
In a direct election, the people are directly candidates woo the
involved in the election of their representatives. people of certain caste or A political rally
community to vote for
Institutional Representation of Democracy
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