India
Oi-Soumya Joshi
Indian elections, considered the world's largest democratic process, have started. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to be held in seven phases, 96.8 crore voters across the country will go to the election booths.
The winner of this massive endeavor is determined within the framework of the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system. However, the system is not just about counting votes; It also has a significant impact on who becomes the winner. Here is an in-depth information about the FPTP system for India.
What is included in the FPTP system?
India adopted the FPTP system from the British. Under this framework, a candidate only needs to secure more votes than his or her opponents to win.
This means that a candidate does not need a majority i.e. more than 50 percent of the votes to win. As long as they get even one more vote than the runner-up, they capture the entire constituency and claim a seat in the Lok Sabha, First Post reported.
For example: In a constituency, Even if candidate A does not get an absolute majority, he will still retain that seat and represent the entire constituency, he will be considered the voice of 100 percent of the people of that constituency, despite only having the support of 37 percent of them. , as reported. By First Post.
In Indian general elections, the FPTP system is followed in all 543 seats of the Lok Sabha. After this, these 543 members elect the Prime Minister of the country.
What criticisms have been associated with the system?
Many flaws in the system have been exposed in the last few years.
Wasted votes: The FPTP system, in many democracies where it is employed, has been criticized for failing to represent the interests of the majority of the population.
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Promoting populism and vote bank politics: Elected representatives are not required to work for all the people of the constituency. They can focus on the needs of the small number of people who voted for them to ensure re-election. As a result, representatives often engage in vote-bank, competitive or regional politics. Even political parties resort to populism and vote-bank politics to stay relevant, reports First Post.
Minimizing opposition parties: Due to the FPTP election system, opposition parties have been eliminated or minimized many times in the past. For example, in the first three general elections in India (starting in 1952), opposition parties secured a significant share of people's votes, but this was not reflected in the Lok Sabha. The same scenario happened in 1984 and 2014 also. Even in the 2019 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to get more than 50 percent of the seats in the Lok Sabha, despite securing 37.4 percent of the votes.
High barrier to entry for small parties: Small parties, especially those with scattered support, may find it challenging to succeed in elections due to the winner-take-all FPTP system. Unless their vote is concentrated in a constituency, they are unlikely to win a seat, even if they receive some popular support.
What are the benefits of the system?
Despite criticism and calls for changes to the proportional representation (PR) system, India continues to follow the FPTP framework.
Why is this the case?
Several factors contribute to the popularity and success of the FPTP system.
Simplicity: The election system is straightforward, even for ordinary voters who may lack specialized knowledge about politics and elections. During elections, voters are presented with a clear choice and all they have to do is support a candidate or party while casting their vote. In the PR system, this choice becomes complex due to the complex calculations involved in the distribution of seats.
Choice of voting for party and/or candidate: Depending on the current political climate, voters may prefer either a political party or an individual candidate, or strike a balance between the two. The FPTP system provides voters with the option to choose not just between political parties but also between specific candidates. In contrast, according to media reports, in the PR system voters elect a political party and then representatives are elected based on the party's list.
Smooth functioning and stability: The FPTP system generally gives some bonus seats to the largest party or coalition, in excess of their share of votes. As a result, this system enables parliamentary government to operate smoothly and effectively by facilitating the formation of a stable government.
In the PR system, which encourages coalition governments, there is a fear of indecision, excessive compromise and legislative paralysis.
Lack of political will: The ability to change the system lies with those who take power after elections. However, generally, only those parties come to power that are adept at controlling the existing system. They have little incentive to change the structures built in their favor, First Post reports. So, for now, India is sticking to the FPTP system.
Story first published: Saturday, April 20, 2024, 11:37 (IST)