Civics Polity · General Awareness

Elections and Electoral Systems

2,926 Questions

Elections and electoral systems encompass voting methods, gerrymandering, and proportional representation. This hub covers party conventions, the Election Commission of India, and electoral processes. It is an important section for UPSC, state PSC, and civics polity preparation.

Gerrymandering and boundariesElectoral College systemProportional representationElection Commission of IndiaVoting systems and ballots

Elections and Electoral Systems Questions

Multiple choice civics electoral politics election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Which of the following is not a function of the election commission?

  1. Preparation of electoral rolls

  2. Revision of electoral rolls

  3. Making schedule for elections

  4. Selection of candidates for contesting in election
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According to the Constitution and The Representation of the People Act, 1951, any Indian citizen can contest from any constituency. The only condition is that he/she should possess qualification for contesting from that constituency i.e. he/she has not been disqualified under Constitution or other laws for contesting the elections.

Multiple choice civics electoral politics election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Arrange the following events relating to the election process in correct chronological order.
(A) Announcing the schedule of elections
(B) Preparation of final list of contestants
(C) Filing of nominations
(D) Withdrawal of nominations
(E) Allotment of symbols to the contestants

  1. ACDEB

  2. ACDBE

  3. CDBEA

  4. CDEBA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Elections in India are conducted according to the following procedure:
• Candidates file their nomination papers with the Electoral Commission.
• A list of candidates is published.
• Campaigning ends at 6:00 pm on the second last day before the polling day.
• The polling is held between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm.
• Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are used to prevent election fraud.
• After a citizen votes, his or her left index finger is marked with an indelible ink.

Multiple choice civics electoral politics election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

The authority responsible for conducting free and fair elections in any district is ______________.

  1. Polling Agent

  2. Political Worker

  3. Returning Officer

  4. District Officer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The Election Commission of India designates or appoints District Election Officer in Consultation with the State Government whose work is to supervise elections at the district level,he controls  preparation and revision of electoral rolls. 

Multiple choice civics electoral politics election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

The person responsible for conducting free and fair elections in any district is ______________.

  1. Polling Agent

  2. Political Worker

  3. Returning Officer

  4. District Officer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The Election Commission of India designates or appoints District Election Officer in Consultation with the State Government whose work is to supervise elections at the district level,he controls  preparation and revision of electoral rolls. 

Multiple choice history why did people want to vote? age of protest and law & order impact of industrial revolution democratic and nationalist revolutions in europe

Who could not vote in parliamentary elections in England before 1832?

  1. Women

  2. Children

  3. Poor Men

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Before 1832, the franchise was extremely limited. Women, children, and the vast majority of poor men (who did not meet property qualifications) were excluded from voting.

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

What are mid-terms elections?

  1. Elections held to fill a vacancy caused by any reason

  2. Election held before the expiry of the full term of any house

  3. Elections held after the expiry of the full term of any house

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A mid-term election refers to a type of election which held before the expiry of the full term of any house. Where the people can elect their representatives in the middle of the term of the executive or of another set of members.

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

Identify the term that is used for the new elections after the death of an elected representative _____________.

  1. Mid-term

  2. General

  3. By-election

  4. Re-election
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Bye elections are the elections which are conducted only is a particular constituencies or some constituencies either because of the sudden death of the elected representative at that seat or if he/she gets disqualified by some other reasons or has tendered resignation. 

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

The paper in which the names and symbols allotted to each of the candidates is termed as _________________.

  1. Ballot paper

  2. Nomination paper

  3. Allocating paper

  4. Visualising paper
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Nomination paper is filed in person by each and every candidate contesting any election giving account of all true and detailed information in order to get status of legitimate candidacy.

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

The electoral roll is a list of people in the constituency who are registered to_______________.

  1. Vote

  2. Acquire property

  3. Contest elections

  4. Enroll in the political party
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The electoral roll (also called an electoral register, voters roll or poll book) has a list of persons who are eligible to vote in a particular electoral constituency and who are registered to vote if required in a particular jurisdiction. Hence, Option A is correct. The rest of the qualifications are not fundamental for exercising the right to vote, hence, incorrect. 

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

Elections are the mechanism used to ________________.

  1. Choose people's representatives

  2. Change the policies of the state

  3. Select the presidentof India

  4. Elect the leader of a party
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

An election is a formal group decision-making process by which the population chooses an individual to hold public office, that is, a representative of the people. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century. Hence, Option A is correct. The rest of the clauses are not the primary function of elections, hence, incorrect. 

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

The counting of votes take place with the help of the _______________.

  1. Electronic voting machines

  2. Polling station

  3. Secret ballot

  4. Open ballot
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Electronic Voting is the standard means of conducting elections using Electronic Voting Machines, sometimes called "EVMs" in India. The use of EVMs and electronic voting was developed and tested by the state-owned Electronics Corporation of India and Bharat Electronics in the 1990s. They were introduced in Indian elections between 1998 and 2001, in a phased manner. The electronic voting machines have been used in all general and state assembly elections of India since 2004. Hence, Option A is correct. The rest of the options are not viable for vote counting, hence, incorrect. 

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

Apart from $EPIC$, the voters can use the ______________.

  1. Family card

  2. Ration card or driving licence

  3. Entertainment card

  4. Migration card.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The government has tried to give an Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to every person on the voter's list. The voters are required to carry this card when they go out to vote so that no one can vote for someone else. But the card is not yet compulsory for voting. For voting, the voters can show many other proofs of identity like the ration card or the driving license.

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

The correct meaning of the term general election is ___________.

  1. State election

  2. Elections in the district

  3. Speaker's election

  4. Elections in all the constituencies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

For Lok Sabha elections, the country is divided into 543 constituencies. The representative elected from each constituency is called a Member of Parliament or an MP. One of the features of a democratic election is that every vote should have equal value. Each Parliamentary constituency has within it several assemblies constituencies. The same principle applies to Panchayat and Municipal elections. Each village or town is divided into several ‘wards’ that are like constituencies.

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

The correct meaning of the term reserved constituencies is  ________________.

  1. Constituencies for the weaker sections

  2. Election area for the rich people

  3. Polling area for the poor.

  4. Areas for senoir citizens
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Reserved Constituencies are the constituencies in which people only belonging to the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes who can contest the election. In India, there are certain numbers of university positions and political positions are organized for specified groups of people including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women and so on. Hence, Option A is correct. The rest of the clauses do not fit in this definition, hence, incorrect. 

Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

'Pooling booth' means ____________________.

  1. Voting place- a school or government office

  2. Government departments

  3. Political parties office.

  4. Counting of votes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The final stage of an election is the day when the voters cast or ‘poll’ their vote. That day is usually called the election day. Every person whose name is on the voters’ list can go to a nearby ‘polling booth’, situated usually in a local school or a government office. Thus, Polling Booth is a place where arrangements are made so people can cast their vote.