Hi friends, in this article I would like to share my knowledge about election and the election process.

 Elections are very important in a democracy because only through elections people elect their representatives to the legislature. Elections give stability to the government. People control the government from becoming despotic.
 Franchise is the right to vote. In our country everyone who is above 18 years can vote. This is called Universal Adult Franchise. ‘One person one vote’ is based on the principle of political equality. In modern democracies, voting is done by secret ballot. This means that during voting no one else will know to whom a particular person has voted.
 Elections are conducted once in 5 years in India. If for any reason, the ruling party loses its majority in the legislature before 5 year term, then the government resigns and fresh election takes place. Sometimes when a No-Confidence motion is passed on the government with a majority, then also the legislature is dissolved and fresh election takes place. There are different stages in an election. They are as follows:

1. SELECTION OF CANDITATES:
 There are two types of candidates. Once the election is announced, then the political parties select their candidates. They are called party candidates. These candidates belong to one particular political party. These parties support and organize their campaign. The second type of candidates is called independents. They do not belong to any political party. They may sometimes be supported by a political party. Once the number of seats is decided, each party prepares its own candidate list and publishes it.

2. FILLING OF NOMINATION PAPERS:
 The Election Commission (E.C) fixes and announces the dates for filling of nomination papers, scrutiny of the papers and the selection of final list of candidates. All the candidates must file their nomination papers with the E.C before the last date for filling the papers. The E.C takes sometime, to check the information given by the candidates. This is known as Scrutiny. If any wrong information is given or if the candidate does not fulfill any requisites of the E.C, he can be disqualified. After that a date is given for withdraw. If anyone has second thoughts, he can withdraw.

3. ELECTION CAMPAIGN:
 The next step is the campaign by the candidates. Every political party and candidates wants to win the election. So they issue hand bills, posters, hold meetings, make promises. This is called Election manifesto. While the ruling party tells the citizens what it had done for them, the opposition party tells them what the ruling party had not done and what they will do if they come to power. Campaigning stops 48 hours before the polling day.

4. VOTING DAY:
 On the voting day, the citizens who are above 18 years go to the polling booths and cast their vote. While voting, it should be noted that ballot indicates the preferred symbol correctly. Care should be taken, else it becomes invalid. Voting is done from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once the voting is over, the boxes are sealed and sent to the counting centres, where they are under tight security.

5. DECLARATION OF RESULTS:
 On the counting day, all the boxes are opened before the candidates or their representatives and the votes are counted. The person who gets the highest number of votes is declared as elected. If a particular party gets majority, then that party is asked to form the government by the Executive head (The President/ The Governor).

The duty of the Election Commission is to see that elections are held in a fair manner. That is why it is made an independent body in our Constitution.

I hope that this article would provide you good information about the election and the process involved in the selection of the government.