Electoral Politics in India

A system where citizens choose their representatives to govern them.

The right and ability of citizens to choose their representatives through elections.

A contest between political parties or candidates to win the support of the voters.

A geographical area where voters elect a representative, usually from a pool of candidates.

A process where elections are held regularly, allowing citizens to choose representatives and change them based on their performance.

A group of people with shared political goals and ideologies who compete for power.

The conditions and standards that must be met to ensure an election is fair and reflects the will of the people.

The power and opportunity that elections give to political parties and leaders to improve their performance and respond to the people's needs.

The process by which citizens choose their representatives for government, with a fixed timeframe.

General elections involve all constituencies in a country simultaneously, while by-elections target specific vacancies.

Geographic areas that elect one representative to a specific governing body (Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Panchayat, etc.).

The representative elected from a Lok Sabha constituency.

The representative elected from a Vidhan Sabha (State Assembly) constituency.

Constituencies reserved for people belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) to ensure their fair representation in the Lok Sabha.

Constituencies reserved for people belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST) to ensure their fair representation in the Lok Sabha.

Seats in local governing bodies (Panchayat, Municipalities) set aside for specific groups like Other Backward Classes (OBC) and women.

An official list of all eligible voters in an election.

A document that verifies a voter's identity and allows them to cast their vote.

The process of a person running to be elected as a representative.

A legal declaration made by a candidate, outlining their criminal cases, assets, liabilities, and educational qualifications.

The period before an election where candidates campaign to win voters.

Actions that are forbidden during an election campaign, such as bribing or threatening voters.

The maximum amount of money that a candidate can spend on their campaign.

When an election is rejected by a court due to illegal practices or violations during the campaign.

The percentage of eligible voters who cast their ballots in an election.

A situation where elected officials are regularly replaced in elections, indicating a healthy democratic process.

Spending lots of money on campaigns can give candidates an unfair advantage over those with less financial resources.

The process of distributing political party tickets to candidates for an election.

When candidates with connections to crime can use their influence to gain political power.

When voters have limited choices as major political parties share similar policies.

When smaller parties and independent candidates face disadvantages compared to bigger parties.

People in India feel that they can influence government policies through elections.

The day voters cast their votes, marking the culmination of an election process. It is also known as the polling day.

A designated location where voters go to cast their votes, typically in a designated area within a constituency.

A sheet of paper that lists the names of all the candidates contesting in the election along with their respective symbols.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are now used to record votes in India. These machines display the names and symbols of the candidates, allowing voters to cast their vote by pressing a button.

An independent body that is responsible for conducting elections in India. It has the authority to ensure fair and transparent elections.

The Chief Election Commissioner is the head of the Election Commission. They hold the authority to ensure fair and transparent conduct of elections.

These rules are agreed upon to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and to avoid the misuse of government resources or influence during campaigns.

The Election Commission has the ability to issue directives to the government during elections to prevent misuse of power and resources for political gains.