Elections take place regularly in any democracy. Elections is a mechanism by which people can choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so.
What makes an election democratic?
- Everyone should have one vote and every vote should have equal value.
- Parties and candidates should be free to contest elections and should offer some real choice to the voters.
- Elections must be held regularly after every few years.
- The candidate preferred by the people should get elected.
- Elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner where people can choose as they really wish.
In India, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections are held regularly after every five years. The country is divided into different areas for purposes of elections. These areas are called electoral constituencies.
In our country, all the citizens aged 18 years and above can vote in an election. Every citizen has the right to vote, regardless of his or her caste, religion or gender.
In India, elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful Election Commission (EC). It enjoys the same kind of independence that the judiciary enjoys. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India.