India’s Election System: An Overview

Introduction

Election serves as the foundation of a democratic system. The election system in a country significantly impacts the presence of a free and fair democracy. The Election System refers to a particular set of authorities and rules that are to be followed while electing representatives.

In India as well, a process of election is followed which begins with the notification of elections by the Election Commission of India. Later, a proper schedule of elections is prepared by the Commission and name of candidates by each party is filed under the same. Then begins the election campaigning for which certain rules and regulations must be followed.

Types of Election System

When it comes to the process of voting, there exist diverse methods through which individuals can make their choices, along with varying preferences in the counting process. As a result, multiple types of election systems have been established.

• FIRST PAST THE POST SYSTEM

This system is also known as the Plurality System. In this system, the candidate among all the candidates who secures the highest number of votes is elected. There is no majority number of votes which must be secured by the winning candidate. There is no role of shares of votes in allotting seats to candidates. The candidate who wins gets a seat.

The FPTP System offers voters a choice between specific candidates along parties. This type of election system is followed in the U.K., India, Pakistan, Thailand and Nepal.

• PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM

In the Proportional Representation System, shares of votes play a crucial role in allotting shares of seats to the candidates. Each party is allotted the shares of seats in proportion to the shares of votes. Suppose a party gets 25% of votes in any constituency, then the party will get 25% of seats.

There are three variants of the proportional representation system:

1. Party-List Proportional Representation System

In this system, the entire country is considered as a single constituency. Citizens vote for specific parties and seats are allocated to the parties based on the percentage of votes they receive. After the allocation of seats, the candidate list is released by the parties. It is followed in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Israel.

2. Mixed-Member Proportional Representation System

In this, the country is divided into multi-member constituencies. Each party prepares a list of candidates for each constituency, depending on how many candidates have to be elected from that constituency. Citizens exercise their preference for a party not for a candidate. It is found in Argentina and Portugal.

3. Single Transferable Vote System

In elections held under the Single Transferable Vote system, voters rank candidates according to their preferences. The candidate who receives the most first-preference votes will be selected. This process may be repeated based on the number of selections needed.

Lok Sabha elections in India

The Lok Sabha comprises 543 seats. Its members, known as Members of Parliament or MPs, serve a 5-year term, and elections are held every 5 years to fill these seats. These elections are called General Elections. The country is divided into 543 constituencies, and each political party nominates one candidate in each constituency. The candidate who receives the majority of votes in a constituency becomes the MP for that area. To form a government at the national level, a party needs to secure more than half of the total seats, which is 272. If a party secures more than 272 seats, a candidate from that party is chosen as the Prime Minister with the approval of the President. In Lok Sabha Elections, the First Past the Post System is followed.

*The same election system is followed for the elections of the State Legislative Assembly.

Rajya Sabha elections in India

The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States, consists of 245 seats. Out of which 12 members are appointed by the President. The remaining 233 members are elected by the members of the State Legislative Assembly. The Rajya Sabha elections are not conducted through direct voting by people instead their representatives vote for them.

The Rajya Sabha elections follow the Single Transferable Vote System, where MLAs provide a list of preferences of candidates for the seats. Each state has a specific quota of seats. The MLAs of the state rank candidates according to their preference. The winning candidate is the one who secures a minimum quota of votes, determined by this formula:

(TOTAL VOTES POLLED / TOTAL NUMBER OF CANDIDATES TO BE ELECTED+1) +1

The first-preference votes secured by each candidate are counted and if the candidate secures more votes than the specified quota of votes, the candidate is elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha. But if the candidate fails to achieve the minimum votes, then the candidate who secured the lowest votes of first preference is eliminated and his votes are transferred to the second preference candidate on the ballot paper.

*The same election process is followed during the elections of the President and the Vice-President.

Role of the Election commission in India

The Election Commission of India is a permanent constitutional body. It was established in accordance with the constitution on 25 January 1950. Article 324 to Article 329 consists of the composition, duties, powers and functions of the commission.

Article 324 empowers the ECI with superintendence, direction and control for the conduct of elections in India. The commission plays a crucial role in holding free and fair elections in India. From releasing notifications for elections to preparing voters’ list, all important tasks of conducting elections are performed efficiently by the ECI.

Along with the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Delimitation Commission holds a crucial role in demarcating boundaries and dividing the country into various constituencies.

Conclusion

India's election system is a very complex and well-structured process designed to uphold the democratic values of the nation. The country employs different systems for its two houses of Parliament: The First past the post system is used in Lok Sabha elections and the Single Transferable Vote system is used in Rajya Sabha elections.

The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body that plays a significant role in ensuring smooth and fair conduct of the elections. Through its meticulous planning and stringent regulations, the ECI facilitates the democratic process, enabling citizens to choose their representatives and maintain the integrity of the electoral process. This comprehensive system underscores India's commitment to democracy and governance by the people.

References

{1} Indian Politics & Law Review Journal; ISSN 2581 7086; Vol. 6 – 2021

{2} https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/how-are-members-of-lok-sabha-elected-1484712-2019-03-23

{3} Explained: How are Rajya Sabha MPs elected? Why are the polls important? | Explained News - The Indian Express

{4} International Journal of Science and Research; Vol. 8 Issue 4 -April 2019

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