Social Studies class 9 Elections

CHAPTER-7
(Elections)

Questions and Activities

1. What reforms have been introduced by the ECI to make voting more inclusive for the following groups?

(a) People with Disabilities (PwDs)

Answer:

• Barrier-free access to polling stations through ramps and wheelchairs.
• Volunteers are available to assist voters.
• Braille-enabled Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for visually impaired voters.
• Accessible Voter Helpline and mobile applications.
• Transport facilities in many areas to help PwDs reach polling stations.

(b) Service Voters

Answer:

• Provision of Postal Ballot facility.
• Electronic Transmission of Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for service voters.
• Special arrangements for members of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and Indian diplomats posted abroad.

(c) Senior Citizens (60 years and above; and 80 years and above)

Answer:

• Separate queues and priority voting at polling stations.
• Wheelchair and assistance facilities.
• Home voting facility through postal ballot for eligible senior citizens aged 85 years and above (or as notified by the ECI).
• Comfortable seating and drinking water facilities at polling stations.

(d) Prisoners

Answer:

Convicted prisoners and persons in police custody are generally not eligible to vote under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. However, eligible voters who are under preventive detention are allowed to vote through postal ballot.

(e) Persons in Preventive Detention

Answer:

• Eligible to vote through the Postal Ballot facility.
• The Election Commission ensures that they can exercise their voting rights while remaining in preventive detention.

2. What are the various functions of the Election Commission of India? Which of these functions is most important for the conduct of free and fair elections? Explain.

Answer:

Functions of the Election Commission of India (ECI):

• Conducts free and fair elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.
• Prepares and updates electoral rolls.
• Registers and recognizes political parties.
• Allots election symbols to political parties and candidates.
• Enforces the Model Code of Conduct.
• Monitors election expenditure.
• Ensures peaceful and transparent polling and counting of votes.
• Promotes voter awareness and participation.

Most Important Function:

The most important function of the Election Commission is to conduct free, fair, transparent, and impartial elections. This ensures that every eligible citizen can vote without fear or influence and that the true will of the people is reflected in the election results.

3. Elections are the soul of a democracy. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Answer:

Yes, I agree that elections are the soul of democracy because they allow citizens to choose their representatives freely. Elections ensure that the government remains accountable to the people and can be replaced peacefully if it fails to perform effectively.

Reasons:

• Citizens exercise their right to vote.
• Governments are formed through the will of the people.
• Elections ensure accountability and transparency.
• They provide an opportunity to change non-performing governments.
• They strengthen democratic values and public participation.

4. Explain at least three differences between the national and state/regional political parties.

Answer:

5. Why should you vote? Arrange the following in the descending order of your choice. Discuss the reasons for your choice.

Answer:

Suggested Descending Order:

1. (d) Strengthens democracy
2. (a) Opportunity to choose my representative
3. (c) Opportunity to change the non-performing representative
4. (b) Makes me a responsible person

Reasons:

• Voting strengthens democracy by ensuring people's participation in governance.
• It allows citizens to elect capable and honest representatives.
• It gives people the power to replace representatives who do not perform well.
• Voting encourages citizens to fulfil their democratic responsibilities.

6. What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative of the ECI? Explain the objectives and the necessity of conducting SIR.

Answer:

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an initiative of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to thoroughly update and verify the electoral rolls. During this process, eligible voters are added, duplicate and incorrect entries are removed, and all voter details are verified to ensure accurate electoral records.

Objectives of SIR:

• To prepare an accurate and error-free electoral roll.
• To include all eligible citizens as voters.
• To remove duplicate, shifted, deceased, and ineligible voters.
• To improve the transparency and credibility of elections.
• To strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

Need for SIR:

• Population changes due to migration and new eligible voters.
• Correction of errors in voter details.
• Removal of duplicate and outdated entries.
• Ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.

7. Match the political party name with its symbol.

Answer:

8. Read the case study below and answer the following questions.

(a) What initiatives were taken by the ECI to enable the voters to cast their vote?

Answer:

The Election Commission of India (ECI) took several initiatives to make voting accessible and convenient for all eligible voters:

• Online voter registration through the ECI portal.
• Provision of wheelchair facilities for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
• Volunteers to assist elderly and differently-abled voters.
• Police personnel deployed to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling.
• Use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) along with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
• Home voting facility for eligible senior citizens (such as voters aged 85 years and above).

(b) If Ishani was allowed to vote even without carrying her Voter ID card or Aadhaar card, which other document might she be carrying that is valid for voting?

Answer:

She might have been carrying any one of the other identity documents approved by the Election Commission of India, such as:

• Passport
• Driving Licence
• PAN Card
• MNREGA Job Card
• Passbook with photograph issued by a Bank or Post Office
• Smart Card issued under the National Population Register (NPR)
• Service Identity Card issued by the Central or State Government or a Public Sector Undertaking

(c) Cite the examples of violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

Answer:

The following activities mentioned in the passage may be considered violations of the Model Code of Conduct if they occur during the prohibited period:

• Wall writing on public property without permission.
• Pasting campaign posters in unauthorized places.
• Distributing campaign pamphlets near the polling station on polling day.
• Raising election slogans near the polling station on polling day.

(d) Give a suitable title to the passage.

Answer:

"A First-Time Voting Experience"

(e) Find out how the police and army personnel cast their votes.

Answer:

Police personnel and members of the Armed Forces who are on election duty or posted away from their place of residence are generally classified as service voters. They cast their votes through:

• Postal Ballot.
• Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS), wherever applicable.
• Election duty certificate or other facilities provided by the Election Commission for eligible election-duty personnel.

These arrangements ensure that they can exercise their right to vote even while performing essential public duties.

9. A comparative chart of three countries is given below. Based on the information given in the chart, answer the questions.

(a) What is the difference between having a voting right in a country with a multi-party system and another with a single-party system?

Answer:

In a multi-party system, citizens have the freedom to choose from several political parties and candidates. This gives voters a wider range of choices and encourages healthy competition among political parties.

In a single-party system, only one political party is allowed to contest elections or govern the country. Although citizens may vote, they do not have the freedom to choose among different political parties, limiting political competition and choice.

(b) In which of the above countries would you like to stay and why?

Answer:

I would like to stay in Country A because it has a written Constitution, periodic elections, voting rights, and a multi-party system. These features ensure democratic governance, protect citizens' rights, provide freedom of choice, and encourage public participation in government.

10. What are the challenges to conducting free and fair elections?

Answer:

Conducting free and fair elections is essential for a successful democracy. However, several challenges may affect the electoral process.

• Use of money power to influence voters.
• Distribution of fake news and misinformation.
• Misuse of social media during election campaigns.
• Intimidation, violence, or threats against voters.
• Misuse of government machinery by political parties.
• Violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
• Low voter awareness and voter turnout in some areas.
• Attempts to influence elections through communal or caste-based appeals.

The Election Commission of India addresses these challenges by enforcing election laws, monitoring election campaigns, deploying security personnel, promoting voter awareness, and ensuring that elections are conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful manner.

12. Try and make videos or audios on topics like: My Vote My Nation; No Voter to be Left Behind; How to Eliminate the Ill of Money Power, etc.

Answer:

This is an activity-based question. Students should prepare the video or audio by themselves under the guidance of their teacher. The activity aims to develop creativity, communication skills, and awareness about democratic values and responsible voting.

13. Select one national or state political party. Using authentic and reliable sources such as the Election Commission of India (ECI) website, the official website of the selected political party, and newspapers, prepare a comparative chart of the last two State Legislative Assembly elections.

Answer:

This is a project-based activity. Students should complete it by themselves using authentic and reliable sources such as the Election Commission of India (ECI) website, the official website of the selected political party, and reputed newspapers. The project should include the party's election manifesto, percentage of votes polled, number of seats won, number of women candidates who contested, number of women candidates elected, and the sources of information used.

14. Do you think "One Nation, One Election" can improve the efficiency of the electoral process? Divide the class and discuss into two groups—one to examine its potential advantages and the other to analyse its limitations.

Answer:

This is a classroom discussion and activity-based question. Students should participate in the group discussion under the guidance of their teacher. They should present the possible advantages and limitations of "One Nation, One Election" based on facts, logical reasoning, and respectful discussion.