We get to read a lot about unfair practices in elections. Newspapers and television reports often refer to such allegations. Most of these reports are about the following:
• Inclusion of false names and exclusion of genuine names in the voters’ list;
• Misuse of government facilities and officials by the ruling party:
• Excessive use of money by rich candidates and big parties; and
• Intimidation of voters and rigging on the polling day.
Many of these reports are correct. We feel unhappy when we read or see such reports. But fortunately they are not on such a scale so as to defeat the very purpose of elections. This becomes clear if we ask a basic question: Can a party win an election and come to power not because it has popular support but through electoral malpractices? This is a vital question. Let us carefully examine various aspects of this question.
Language: English