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 political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Which of these is not a condition of a democratic election?

  1. Everyone is allowed to vote.

  2. There are political parties to contest elections.

  3. The candidate not preferred by people gets elected.

  4. Elections are held at regular intervals.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Following are the essential conditions of democratic elections: 

  1. Everyone should have one vote and each vote should have equal value.
  2. Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
  3. Elections must be held regularly after few years.
  4. The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
  5. Elections should be conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Election is a procedure whereby the leaders are chosen ____________.

  1. By selection

  2. By promotion

  3. By voting

  4. By defection
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

An election is a formal and organized process by which a population chooses through voting an individual to hold political office. Elections are the integral part and foundation of modern representative democracy since the 17th century.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

In the elections, there are winners and losers.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

An election is a process where people vote in order to choose their representative person or group of persons to hold public office. The person or group of persons who get the majority of the votes from people become the winner of elections while the others getting fewer votes to become losers.

Multiple choice political science how the state government works election in indian democracy working of state government the electoral process

Each state is divided into different areas or __________ for electoral purposes.

  1. Constituencies

  2. Franchises

  3. Political parties

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

A constituency is an electoral unit into which eligible electors are organized to elect representatives to a legislative or another public body. In India, each constituency elects one representative each to each Houses of Parliament and State Legislature. The size and shape of the parliamentary constituencies are determined by an independent Delimitation Commission, which aims to create constituencies which have roughly the same population, subject to geographical considerations and the boundaries of the states and administrative areas.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Who identifies eligible voters in each constituency and prepares the list of all eligible voters?

  1. Revenue Department

  2. Police Department

  3. Rural Development Department

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

The Election Commission of India, as an autonomous constitutional authority, administers the election processes in India. It allows symbols to the political parties. It gives recognition to the national parties, state parties, and regional parties. The commission formulates electoral rolls and updates the voter's list from time to time.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

In the election of the President, each Member of the Electoral College has _____________.

  1. One vote

  2. As many votes as there are candidate

  3. One vote with value attached to it

  4. One vote with value attached to it and he can give as many preferences as there are candidates
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the Indian Presidential election, the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote is used. Each elector has one vote, but the value of that vote varies, and they can mark preferences for candidates.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

An election was held in 1969. The member in a constituency resigned in 1971. The election for that constituency was held within 6 months. What is that election called?

  1. General election

  2. By election

  3. Mid-term election

  4. No Name
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

By-elections are elections used to fill elected offices that have become vacant between general elections. These offices become vacant because the incumbent becomes ineligible to continue in office or dies or resigns.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Elections are all about ________________.

  1. Campaign

  2. Casting of vote

  3. Political parties

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

Elections are conducted in democratic polity. The major participants that are political parties compete with each other to get to power by winning people's confidence and to allure them to get majority of votes. It is the healthy political competition that keeps the spirit if democratic nations alive but when it gets to reed the political parties tend to do everything in their power to attract people and get their votes.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Identify the option who are not entitled to vote in Saudi Arabia.

  1. Men

  2. Women

  3. Minorities

  4. Indigeneous people
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In Saudi Arabia, women are still struggling to get rights equivalent to that of women. There are several rights and privileges that are denied to women such as political freedom of the right to vote.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

In the elections, the voters make many choices. 
The following is not the choice which they make:

  1. They choose who will be their prime minister

  2. They choose who will make laws for them

  3. They choose who will form government for them

  4. They choose the political party whose policies will guide the government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Option a is false 

The Prime Minister is elected by the elected members of Lok Sabha among themselves i.e. the Prime Minister needs to be the Member of Lok Sabha as well. If a candidate gets more than 50% support then he becomes the Prime Minister of the nation.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Read the following statements and select the correct code:
a. Turn out denotes the percentage of eligible voters who cast their vote.
b. In India, the poor and the illiterate people vote very rarely.
c. People, including in India, usually bring pressure on political parties.

  1. a and b

  2. b and c

  3. a and c

  4. a, b and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

People’s participation in election is usually measured by voter turnout figures.  Over the last fifty years, the turnout in Europe and North America has declined. In India, the turnout has either remained stable or actually gone up. 

In India, the poor, illiterate and underprivileged people vote in larger proportion as compared to the rich and privileged sections. This is in contrast to western democracies. For example in the United States of America, poor people, African Americans and Hispanics vote much less than the rich and the white people.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Match the following and select the correct code:

A. Voters list is kept updated because I. There is a fair representation of all sections of society
B. Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that II. Everyone has equal opportunity to elect their representatives
C. Every one has one and only one vote so that Ill. All should have fair chance to compete in elections
D. Party in power is not allowed to use government vehicle because IV. Some people may have moved away from area or died 

  1. A-IV B-I C-II D-III

  2. A-IV B-I C-III D-II

  3. A-IV B-II C-II D-III

  4. A-II B-IV C-III D-I
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
 Voter list is kept updated because  Some people may have moved away from area or died
 Some constituencies are reserved for SCs and STs so that  There is a fair representation of all sections of society
 Every one has one and only one vote so that  Every one has equal opportunity to elect their
 Party in power is not allowed to use government vehichle because  All should have fair chance to compete in elections
Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

Which one of the following relating to the Indian elections is true?

  1. Every constituency in India has more than five candidates contesting elections

  2. Elections in India are, by and large, peaceful

  3. The voting age in India is 18 years in the case of the scheduled castes people only

  4. The losing parties in India accept the election results after the referendum is done
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In Democratic India, general elections take place every five years. All those who are eighteen years of age have a right to vote. A number of candidates seek the election. They move from door to door. They hold public meetings and explain the programs of their parties. If they get majority of votes, they win; but if they do not, they lose. An election, therefore, is like a battle. But this battle is fought in a peaceful way. It is a battle of ballots, not a battle of bullets.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

One can be disqualified from voting, only on the grounds of _____.

  1. Age

  2. Sex

  3. Religion

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

Universal adult franchise is the right to vote which is given to all adults irrespective of caste, creed, race etc. Education has never been a criteria to vote.

The right to vote is granted when a citizen completes 18 years of age. 

Therefore, one can be disqualified from voting, only on the grounds of age.

Multiple choice political science the electoral process election in indian democracy how the state government works working of state government

The reform recently introduced by the Election Commission of India to check the impersonation is __________.

  1. The introduction of electronic voting machine

  2. The introduction of electoral photo identity card

  3. Permission to campaign through media

  4. Conducting of poll opinion through media
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Election Commission is the Constitutional body duly assigned the task of superintendence, direction and control of elections consisting of Parliament, State Legislature, President and Vice President of India.

In order to check cases of impersonation, it introduced photo identity cards. It was an innovative idea of T.N. Seshan, the former CEC.