Why elections matter
In a democracy the people rule, but crores of people cannot sit together and govern. So they elect representatives.
- Elections let people choose who makes laws and forms the government.
- They let people judge the government's work and replace it without violence.
- They give the government legitimacy: people accept its authority because they chose it.
An election is democratic only if everyone has one vote, there are real choices, it is held regularly, the people's choice decides the winner, and it is free and fair.
Electoral systems
First-past-the-post (FPTP)
Each constituency elects one member. The candidate with the most votes wins, even without 50%. India uses it for the Lok Sabha and state Vidhan Sabhas. It is simple and gives each area its own representative, but a party can win many seats with a modest vote share.
Proportional representation (PR)
Seats are given in the ratio of votes. If a party gets 30% of votes, it gets about 30% of seats. Countries like the Netherlands and Israel use list-based PR. India uses a special form (single transferable vote) to elect the Rajya Sabha, the President and the Vice-President.
Worked example
Votes in one area: A 40%, B 35%, C 25%. FPTP: A wins the only seat. PR with 10 seats: A 4, B 3 or 4, C 2 or 3 (roughly 4 : 3.5 : 2.5).
Delimitation and constituencies
A constituency is the area whose voters elect one representative. India has 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Delimitation means drawing the boundaries of constituencies so that each has roughly the same population. An independent Delimitation Commission does this, and its orders cannot be challenged in court.
Some constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), so these groups get a fair voice. In a reserved seat only SC/ST candidates can contest, but everyone votes. A law passed in 2023 provides one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies, to start after the next delimitation.
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set up by the Constitution (Article 324). It is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner with other commissioners. It is independent: the ruling party cannot order it.
- Prepares and updates the electoral roll (voter list) and issues voter ID cards (EPIC).
- Announces the election schedule: dates of nomination, polling and counting.
- Enforces the Model Code of Conduct: e.g. no new government schemes and no misuse of government vehicles after dates are announced.
- Checks nomination papers and candidates' spending limits.
- Conducts voting with EVMs and VVPAT slips, controls officials on election duty, and can order a re-poll.
- Counts votes and declares results; also recognises political parties and allots symbols.
Electoral rolls and the voting process
The electoral roll is the official list of people allowed to vote in a constituency. Any citizen aged 18 on the qualifying date can apply to be added. It is revised regularly to add new voters and remove those who have died or moved.
The process: roll prepared → schedule announced → candidates file nomination → campaign (stops 48 hours before polling) → polling day (ink on finger, vote on EVM, VVPAT slip shown) → counting → result.
Party system, coalitions and the anti-defection law
Party system
India has a multi-party system: many national and state parties compete. The ECI recognises parties as national or state parties based on votes and seats.
Coalitions
To form a government a party needs a majority (more than half the seats, 272 of 543 in the Lok Sabha). If no party has it, several parties join a coalition and share power, usually with a common programme.
Anti-defection law
Added to the Constitution in 1985 (Tenth Schedule). An elected member who voluntarily leaves the party, or votes against the party's instruction (whip), can be disqualified by the Speaker. It stops members from switching sides for money or posts. A merger backed by two-thirds of the party's members is an exception.
Try it at home
Ask 10 family members or friends to vote for one of three snacks. Count by FPTP (most votes wins) and then share 10 'plates' by PR. Did the smaller choices get anything under FPTP? Also, if you are 17, check how to register on the voter list next year.
Key formulas and definitions
- Constituency: area that elects one representative.
- Delimitation: fixing constituency boundaries so each has about equal population.
- Electoral roll: official list of voters.
- FPTP: most votes wins the seat (Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha).
- Proportional representation: seats ≈ share of votes (Rajya Sabha, President, in a special form).
- Majority in Lok Sabha: 272 of 543 seats.
- Anti-defection law: leaving the party or defying the whip can cost the seat (Tenth Schedule, 1985).
- Model Code of Conduct: rules for parties and government during elections.
Worked examples
1. In a constituency, votes are: A 42,000, B 38,000, C 20,000. Who wins under FPTP and what share did the winner get?
Total = 1,00,000. A has the most votes, so A wins. Share = 42,000 ÷ 1,00,000 = 42%. A wins without a majority of votes.
2. With the same shares (42%, 38%, 20%), how would 10 seats be split by PR?
42% of 10 = 4.2 → 4; 38% of 10 = 3.8 → 4; 20% of 10 = 2. So A 4, B 4, C 2.
3. Constituency X has 30 lakh people and Y has 10 lakh, each electing one MP. What is wrong and who fixes it?
A vote in Y is worth three times a vote in X. The Delimitation Commission redraws boundaries so both have about the same population.
4. The Lok Sabha has 543 seats. Party P wins 240, Q 30, R 15. Can P form a government alone? What can it do?
Majority = 272. P has only 240, so it cannot alone. With Q (240 + 30 = 270) it is still short; with Q and R (285) it crosses 272. So P, Q and R can form a coalition.
5. After elections are announced, a minister launches a new road scheme. What will the ECI do?
It breaks the Model Code of Conduct, which bars new schemes after the announcement. The ECI can stop the announcement and act against the misuse.
6. An MLA elected on party A's ticket votes against A's whip in a trust vote. What can happen?
Under the anti-defection law, the Speaker can disqualify the MLA, who then loses the seat.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the winner under FPTP must get more than 50% of votes. Only the most votes are needed.
- Thinking the government conducts elections. The independent Election Commission does.
- Thinking only SC/ST people can vote in a reserved constituency. Everyone votes; only candidates must be SC/ST.
- Mixing up delimitation (drawing boundaries) with the electoral roll (list of voters).