An essential component of a democratic nation like India is the right to vote. Many people in our country are entitled to vote, yet few enjoy doing so. The highest recorded voter turnout in Indian election history was 67.11% in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The number of voters has increased favourably with each election. It is encouraging to see more people voting since every vote counts towards a better tomorrow for our nation.
Motives for voting
Election outcomes serve as the foundation for India’s democratic system, which is our right. The people elect our legislatures and parliaments from among themselves. We are privileged to have the right to vote under the Constitution. The ability to vote for whomever we choose and to alter our minds is protected by the Constitution, which we take for granted.
Change agent: Your participation has the possibility of having a big impact. If you don’t like the existing government, you may vote for another that is superior. The same party will hold onto control for the next five years if voters choose not to cast ballots. Finally, if a poor administration is left in place, it is the public’s fault for casting an unsuccessful or no vote.
Each vote that is cast matters. Every vote matters, despite the overwhelming number of individuals who appear to be casting ballots.
NOTE: Even if voters are not happy with any of the candidates, the Indian government has allowed them to still cast a ballot. None of the Above, or NOTA, is an important vote for people who aren’t happy with any of the candidates. No one is suitable; hence, there should be no vote. The party with the next-largest majority will be chosen when NOTA ballots have been collected and tallied.
What actually happens in elections?
You also need to be aware of how elections function in order to be inspired to cast your ballot. India is a democratic country with an unequal federal structure. From municipal to state to federal levels, officials are chosen through elections. Parliament consists of two houses:
Lok Sabha: The lower chamber of the Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha, is sometimes referred to as the Chamber of the General Public.” General votes are used to elect Lok Sabha members. In a five-year span, these elections are held. The President of India will nominate two people for election to the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha has 545 members at present. Whereas the other 543 are chosen for term limits of five years, just two members are appointed to represent the Anglo-Indian community as a whole.
Rajya Sabha: The Council of States is another name for the Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of the Indian Parliament. The Union Territories’ electoral college and the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies elect the members. As a result, the people indirectly elect the Rajya Sabha’s members. There are 245 members of the Rajya Sabha, 233 of whom are elected to 6-year terms. Every two years, one-third of the house retires.
Prime Minister: The Lok Sabha’s elected members elect the Prime Minister. India’s lower chamber of parliament is known as the Lok Sabha.
President: An electoral college made up of members of the State Legislatures elects the President of India for a five-year term.
Elections Process
To supervise and ensure an uninterrupted election process, India’s Election Commission was founded. Election monitoring, control, and instructions, as well as election conduct, are all under the purview of the Election Commission. The voting procedure is described in the overview that is provided below.
To cast a ballot, you must first be listed as a valid voter on the Voter List. You can apply for a voter ID online, at VRECs, at specific sites, or by speaking with a booth-level officer.
- You will be given a voter identification card, which you must use to cast your ballot.
- It is the citizen’s obligation to be informed of who is standing for election.
- It is also the duty of the person to find their voting location in their particular constituency.
- The electronic voting machines let you cast your ballot.
- As the names of those shortlisted will be listed alphabetically in the relevant state’s language, if you only understand English, you should get to know the symbols for the candidates.
- Simply click the button in blue next to the given name and symbol of the candidate you choose. A NOTA vote is also an option.
- Your finger will be marked with ink to show that you cast a ballot.
- It not only indicates if you have previously cast a ballot but also serves as a badge of honour.