Democracy and election are closely related terms. A democratic state means that the community as a whole possesses supreme (sovereign) authority and maintains ultimate control over public affairs. On the other hand, election may be defined as a process through which a group of people choose or select somebody, either from among them or from outside, on the basis of majority support. Election is, thus, a process of determining the popularity of an individual in the society or at least among the people of the group who elect him or her.
In democracy, most of the important office bearers are chosen through the process of election. General elections are characteristic and key to representative democracy. People express their sovereignty concretely to elect their representative. It makes the hall mark of a representative government. It is an occasion where the voters express their will. In election, the voters express their desire in favor of a particular candidate whereby selection is determined. In other words, election is the legitimate channel of political recruitment in a popular government. The members of the legislature, office bearers of political parties, member of local bodies, etc. are elected in all democratic states. Therefore, election occupies a very significant place in democracy. The importance of election is envisaged in the following ways:
It safeguards the people’s sovereignty. The voters can have effective control over their representatives through periodic elections. The representatives cannot ignore the voters. He has to keep in mind the wishes of the electorates because the representatives have to approach the electorates from time to time for votes.
Election also helps the growth of political consciousness among the common people. It encourages the voters to try to understand the political problem facing the states. This makes the people politically educated and sharpens their political intelligence too. It creates, among the voters, a sense of active participation in public affairs.
Elections provide an opportunity to have direct contact between the voters and their representatives. They know each others well. This is essential for the success of democracy. Election establishes the importance of popular sovereignty which is one of the basic principles of democracy. It proves dependence of the government on the popular will for its existence.
Election promotes grassroots democracy in a democratic state by ensuring participation of the local people through franchise. We know that without local level democracy, it is not just possible to build democracy at the other levels. All countries in the world where vibrant democracies exits, have extremely active local government.
However, election is not a flawless system. If proper electoral processes are not maintained and adequate electoral reforms are not made, it could prove dangerous for the smooth working of democracy. Corruption, communalism, criminalization, rigging, election by force, multiple registration in the electoral rolls, etc. are some important issue that have affected a system in almost all democratic countries. India, and in particular Nagaland, is not an exception. The nexus between power and corruption, and the unholy alliance among all the three components of the elites - the politicians, the bureaucrats and the business class-was the most important issue in the recent time elections in India. Hence, electoral reform is the need of the hour before letting these evils of the electoral system murder democracy. Recently, the CEO, Nagaland has taken serious steps towards purification of the Electoral Rolls in Nagaland. Such an initiative must be welcomed, co-operated and supported by all. One of the many ways by which we can cure the ills within the electoral system could be the active participation of voters and the exercise of the right to vote honestly. It is a fact that the majority of the electorates show apathy towards election. People tend to forget that through their right to franchise they are taking part in the political process. We should also keep in mind that the right to franchise is a matter of prestige and a means of acquiring political education. It is also a mean to safeguard the sovereign power the people. It determines ones status in the society.
It is, therefore, important that all the voters have the interest in the political participation. The negligence of it would, at best, pave the way for proxy voting, which makes way of money and muscle power to play a decisive role in the election. And the consequence would be the placement of a wrong person in power, give birth to corrupt practices and this will ultimately harm the general interest of the people.
Let all take it that the vote is the first step in the struggle to rebuild our society in such a manner that it can reflect and fulfill the desires and aspiration of the people. Do not avoid politics. If you do so, you are inviting authoritarianism.
Dihe Mao, Assistant Professor, St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama.
