BPSC-133 Unit- 9 Electoral process, Notes available for IGNOU.

BPSC-133 COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OVERVIEW

BPSC- 133 UNIT- 9 ELECTORAL PROCESS (NOTES)

TOPICS :-

1. Introduction
2. Defining on electoral system
3. Varieties of electoral system
4. Factors affecting the Degree of proportionality
5. Different electoral system

9.2 DEFINING AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM :-

It is a set of rules that regulate the mechanism of elections. It deal with all aspects of election such as right to vote, contest election, electoral machinery for conducting elections, nature of voting , structure of the ballot, election campaign, expenditure and financing, district magnitude, date of voting , fairness in counting of votes, resolution of electoral disputes and soon. It has three components :-

1. Ballot structure :- It signify the number of votes a voter can cast, permitting to vote for only one candidate or also allowing voters to rank order the candidates.
2. Electoral formula :– It is the way votes are translated into seaks. The mechanisms used in this are plurality, majoritarian and proportional.
3. Districting and district magnitude :-It is the process of dividing the territory into constituencies or electoral districts. District magnitude refers to number of seats filled from each district. It represent the number of candidates elected for any district.

9.3 VARITIES OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM :-

1. Plurality system :- It is referred to as first-past-the-past-system (FPTP). It means the winning candidate is one who receives most votes regardless of whether he/she has acquired and absolute majority. Eg – lok sabha and state vidhan sabha election in India.

2. Majority system :- It ensures that the candidate who is declared elected secures more than 50% votes. Methods used in this are –

(a). Two round system :- Here, two round of voting take place depending on wether the formula of absolute majority is achieved in the first round, second round is held between the top two candidates. In this, voters vote for candidates and not arties. Although voters, who vote for a single candidate, may swith from one party at first to second party at second, their vote cannot be divided.

(b) Alternative vote system :- In this, voters rank all candidate in order. They mark ‘1’ beside their first choice, ‘2’ besides second and ‘3’ for third and soon. Votes are counted on the basis of first preferences and winning candidate need to secure an absolute majority. If no candidates wins, the last- placed candidates is excluded and votes of it are redistributed to remaining according to second preferences, and this continues until one secure absolute majority.

3. Proportion representation system

4. Mixed – member system

9.4 FACTORS AFFECTING THE DEGREE OF PROPORTIONALITY :-

1. Size of constituencies :- The larger the constituency, greater is the number of members which it elects.

2. Use of electroral thresholds in some PR systems :- Thresholds represent the minimum percentage of votes that a party must secure to receive seats in legislature. The reason behind this is preventing excessive fragmentation in legislature and ensure government stability. At the same time, it also reduces the degree of proportionality in the sense that small parties do not gain representation.

9.5 DIFFERENT ELECTORAL SYSTEMS :-

1. Advantages and Disadvantages of plurality and majority systems :-

2. Advantages and disadvantages of proportional representation systems :-

3. Advantages and disadvantages of mixed – member system :-

ADVANTAGES :- (a) They produce high degree of proportionality and is directly responsible for each electoral district.

(b) As few votes are wasted, level of participation is higher.

(c) The presence of single – member constituency tends to strengthen electoral strength pf two large parties and they gain good number of individual seats.

(d) They produce high level of candidate recognition.

(e) They provide its voters a choice to cast their vote at candidate ties for the individual of one party and list vote for a different party.