Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Lucknow, University Road, Babuganj, Hasanganj, Lucknow- 226007, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email id: dr.kaviraj11@gmail.com
Online published on 20 March, 2014.
Election is the ‘backbone’ of democracy. In the absence of elections, democracy will stagger and unable to maintain its state position. Fair and transparent election is a timely dose for maintaining the health of the democratic system. Democracy and elections symbolize modern and cultured nations in the present era. At present democracy is not only a political system but also a socioeconomic arrangement. Election is a capable and powerful instrument through which modern states create a sense of participation and sharing among the citizens. A flawless election process is the foundation of the real representative government. The author looks at the worldwide views about electoral systems to understand what ideas helped different democracies in the world to survive and why they sought for public opinions via different means and methods. Better alternative models of electoral processes are needed in place of electoral processes that typically follow the Westminster system. Criminalization of politics is also a serious detriment to holding fair and free elections, another point that the author will dwell upon in this article. Different voting procedures across the world as well as how they initiate and regularize the voting process and compel citizens to vote and get rid of voters’ neutrality in order to strengthen democratic governance are also discussed.
Westminster, Neutrality, Representation, Nomination, Instrument