Importance of elections as a citizen, candidate and leader in a democratic country like India
The method of participating in elections is through universal adult suffrage. According to it, all citizens of a country over the age of 18 have the right and are eligible to vote.
“Election is a systematic, organized and formal way of choosing leaders for particular position by casting votes”.
Elections is the foundation for any democratic country. Elections provide a chance for the citizens to express their opinion and to elect the leaders of their choice. Citizens have the option to choose leaders whose ideas are futuristic and solve their problems. It’s important as citizens to choose a leader who prioritizes his works towards the development of a country and not for his own benefit.
In India as many as 16 Lok Sabha elections have been conducted since the Independence. The most recent was held in May 2019. First election was held in 1951.
Elections in India is not something new. It started before the Independence, i.e during the time of British rule. But during British rule the franchise of voting was very limited and only few could vote and participate in elections. Government restricted the vote to those with property and wealth. Once India got its independence, it adopted universal adult suffrage.
Importance for candidates to participate in elections
In India every citizen is free to contest in elections either by representing a political party or as an independent candidate. Any citizen who thinks there needs to be change in the system or new reforms can contest in the election.Young leaders coming into politics can bring a positive change to the society. Citizens can elect good leaders only when their are good leaders participating in the election.
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferior”. – Plato
Importance for citizens to participate in elections
Elections provides a platform for the citizens of the country to elect the leaders who they think are capable. Indian Constitution says the candidate who wins the elections are considered to be the leader. Citizens above the age of 18 participate in election and choose candidates from a party or individuals to represent them.
“ Every election is determined by people who show up.” – Larry J. Sabato
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Importance for elected leaders to work for betterment
One or the other election keeps taking place in India. It might be either the General election (Lok Sabha elections) or the State elections or the Local Body elections. It’s important for leaders who have been elected to continuously work towards the betterment and development of the society. They need to respond to the demands of the citizens on a regular basis if they wish to be elected as leaders in the next term. Since in Indian constitution follows a self-corrective system. According to which, leaders should always keep a track of what people are looking for, ask for their opinions and review their own activities, performance and conciliate their popularity.
In democratic countries, elections are the way for the citizens to raise their voice against the ruling leader or party. By casting votes to a new leader shows the dissatisfaction of the people in the society towards the previous leader. This shows that citizens have an ultimate authority and power over the country.
According to the Election Commission (EC) of India, the voter turnout for the 2019 elections was the highest ever, with a record 67.11 percent turnout, as compared to the 66.40 percent in 2014.
Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the Election Commission of India pegged the total number of registered voters at 900 million. Of this, 15 million are said to be first-time voters in the 18-19 age group.
Realizing the growing impact of India’s Gen Z, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the new voters by saying: “I particularly call upon first-time voters to vote in record numbers.” Born in the age of the internet and growing up with smartphones and social media, the youth have a major role to play in deciding the country’s future.