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

Who has ample powers under Article 324(1) to make appropriate orders so as to the conduct of Elections, e.g., cancellation of poll and ordering to poll according to exigencies in particular areas, introduction of electronic voting machines, postponing of election, etc.?

  1. Regional Election Commissioner

  2. Election Committee of Government

  3. Electoral Officer

  4. Election Commission
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Article 324(1) vests in the Election Commission the superintendence, direction, and control of elections. This includes ample powers to make appropriate orders for conducting elections, such as canceling polls in specific areas, introducing EVMs, postponing elections due to emergencies, and other exigent measures. Regional Commissioners and other officers work under EC's direction.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a function of the Election Commission?

  1. Preparation of electoral rolls

  2. Allotment of election symbols

  3. Selection of candidates

  4. Recognition of political parties
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Election Commission prepares electoral rolls, allots symbols, recognizes political parties, and conducts elections. Selection of candidates is done by political parties themselves, not by the Commission.

Multiple choice

What kind of body is Election Commission?

  1. Permanent and independent body

  2. Permanently dependent on executive

  3. Independent body

  4. Depends on parliament
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Election Commission is a permanent and independent body. The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January, 1950.

Multiple choice

Who is responsible for the registration of voters?

  1. Election Commission

  2. Government

  3. President

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

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India at both the national and state levels. One of its primary functions includes the preparation and maintenance of voter rolls, ensuring eligible citizens can exercise their franchise. This responsibility is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.

Multiple choice

What is adult suffrage?

  1. Criminalisation in politics

  2. Illiteracy of voters

  3. Government rule by adult

  4. Voting right of person above the age of 18
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Right- The old system of communal electorates has been abolished and a uniform adult suffrage system has been adopted. It means every man and women above the age of 18 has the right to vote without any discrimination.

Multiple choice

For which one of the following in the United Kingdom, additional members are elected on the basis of proportional representation?

  1. Westminister Parliament

  2. Scottish Parliament and Welsh National Assembly

  3. Northern Irish Assembly

  4. Local Council
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Scottish Parliament and the Welsh National Assembly use the Additional Member System (AMS), which is a hybrid form of proportional representation. Westminster uses First-Past-The-Post.

Multiple choice

The 'Niemeyer method' for distribution of seats in the Bundestang is concerned with proportion of vote casts in favour of

  1. individual candidates in parliamentary constituencies

  2. party list presented in general elections

  3. regional political parties in state elections

  4. local political parties in local elections
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Niemeyer method (specifically the Hare-Niemeyer method) was a mathematical system used in the German Bundestag to allocate seats to political parties based on the proportion of the total party list votes received in an election.

Multiple choice

In an election, electioneering has to cease in a constituency _____.

  1. 2 days before the poll

  2. 48 hours before the hour of commencement of polling

  3. 48 hours before the poll in the constituency

  4. 48 hours before the closing hour of polling in the constituency

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Electioneering and campaigning must stop 48 hours before the time fixed for the conclusion of the poll in a constituency. This 'silence period' is intended to give voters a peaceful environment to make their final decision.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question below, a question is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the given arguments is/are ‘strong'.

Question: Should there be a cap on maximum number of contestants for parliamentary elections in any constituency? Arguments: I. Yes, this will make the parliamentary elections more meaningful as the voters can make a considered judgment for casting their vote. II. No, in a democracy, any person fulfilling the eligibility criteria can contest parliamentary elections and there should be no such restrictions.

  1. Only argument I is strong.

  2. Only argument II is strong.

  3. Either I or II is strong.

  4. Both I and II are strong.

  5. Neither I nor II is strong.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

I is strong because it will make the election process more meaningful and purposeful. II is strong on account of tenets of democracy.

Multiple choice

What type of voting is held in the Vidhan Sabha to elect members of the Rajya Sabha ?

  1. Secret Voting

  2. Open Voting

  3. List Voting

  4. Cumulative Voting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In 2003, the Representation of the People Act was amended to introduce open voting for Rajya Sabha elections to curb cross-voting. Under this system, an MLA must show their marked ballot to their party's authorized agent. This differs from the secret ballot used in general elections or Presidential elections.

Multiple choice

Adult franchise is disadvantageous

  1. if the people cast their votes in favour of those candidates who give them money

  2. if the votes caste their votes to the candidates belonging to their own castes or religion and not to the able candidates

  3. if the people caste their votes thoughtlessly

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

Universal adult franchise can lead to poor governance if voters cast their votes thoughtlessly, sell their votes for money, or vote strictly along caste and religious lines. In all these scenarios, the democratic process is compromised, making all the listed options correct.

Multiple choice

A pre-election survey revealed that 32 per cent of the population surveyed planned to vote for the candidate John and only 18 percent for his opponent James. In the final tally, candidate James received 51 percent of the votes and candidate John received 40 percent. This shows that the poll procedure was seriously flawed.

Which of the following statements most directly contradicts the conclusion drawn above?

  1. Candidate James received valuable public endorsement.

  2. The media was openly supportive of candidate James' position.

  3. All the voters did not vote during the election.

  4. Many voters, who were initially undecided, made up their minds after the pre-election survey.

  5. Several other opinion polls were conducted at the same time as the pre-election survey.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The conclusion is that poll procedure was flawed. (4) clearly points the reason for the difference between the pre-election poll and the final tally as the voters’ later decision rather than a flawed poll procedure.