Page 200 - SST Class 06

voices heard. Democracy, for this reason, resident fails to get the voter slip, they can check
depends on people who are aware, who are online or call the helpline to find out.
active and willing to make sacrifices to ensure IMPORTANCE OF ADULT FRANCHISE IN
liberty, equality and justice for all. It is because of INDIA
this reason that someone rightly said, ‘Democ- 1. Adult franchise (i.e., the fundamental right
racy is based upon the conviction that there are
of all adults to vote in the elections) in India
extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.’
has ensured dignity to all the citizens, rich
Eligibility to Vote and poor, high and low. It has made the
In a democracy, all citizens regardless of their people realise that the government is ulti-
race, color or previous condition of subjugation mately responsible to them. Everybody is a
have the right to vote under the Citizenship Act partner in the system of government of
which grants them protection under the 15th country.
Amendment.
As per the Election Commission of India, citizens
are eligible to become voters under the following
conditions:
1. Every citizen who is 18 years old on the
qualifying date (January 1 of the year in
case) unless disqualified, is eligible to be
enrolled.
2. Enrollment only at ordinary place of resi-
dence.

3. Enrollment only at one place. Citizens of India
4. Overseas Indian deemed to be ordinarily 2. The right to franchise gives political educa-
resident at the address given in passport. tion to the people. They can judge the
5. Service voters deemed to be ordinarily success of failure of the government. If they
resident at their home address. feel that the performance of the government

Who is Not Eligible to Vote? is not up to their expectations, they can
change the government by means of their
Those citizens who have been declared by the
votes in the next elections.
law that they are unstable to vote or barred due
to corrupt practices or any illegal act relating to 3. Adult franchise encourages voters to take
elections are not entitled to be a voter. A person interest in the political affairs of the country.
who is not a citizen of India cannot be registered At the time of elections, all the parties issue
in the electoral rolls. their manifestos in which they explain their
aims and policies. They describe what they
Once a citizen is eligible to vote and has enrolled
as a voter, a voter slip from the election commis- propose to do in order to meet the chal-
sion will be issued which confirms the citizen’s lenges facing the country and take the
name on the voter list. This slip, along with a nation forward. This naturally evokes the
photo ID proof recognised by the Election interest of the voters in the political affairs of
the country.
Commission, can act as a voter card. If the

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