Civics Polity · General Awareness

Elections and Electoral Systems

2,969 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

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.

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

The "Election day" means ________________.

  1. Nominations filing day

  2. Last campaigning day

  3. Counting of votes day

  4. Polling day for the voters
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D 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 voter's list can go to a nearby ‘polling booth’, situated usually in a local school or a government office.

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

From the following statements, choose the real challenges to our electoral system.
(i)Candidates and parties with a lot of money are under advantage.
(ii)Candidates with criminal records get elected.
(iii) Some families dominate political parties.
(iv)Smaller parties have no disadvantage.

  1. All the above

  2. (i) and (ii)

  3. (i), (ii) and (iii)

  4. (iii) and (iv)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Following are the real challenges to our electoral system -:

  • In some parts of the country, candidates with criminal connection have been able to push others out of the electoral race and to secure a ‘ticket’ from major parties. 
  • Some families tend to dominate political parties; tickets are distributed to relatives from these families. 
  • Very often elections offer little choice to ordinary citizens, for both the major parties are quite similar to each other both in policies and practice. 
  • Smaller parties and independent candidates suffer a huge disadvantage compared to bigger parties. 

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

Which one of the following is a threat for fair elections?

  1. Campaigning

  2. Rigging

  3. Election commission powers

  4. Political competition
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rigging is the act of dishonestly organising an election to get a particular result. it is an electoral fraud and an interference with the election process. Some other malpractices are:

Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters’ list;

Misuse of government facilities and officials by the ruling party; 

Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties.