Indirect election
Topic: Elections and the Electoral System · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 5 "Universal Franchise and India's Electoral System"; Class 8, Ch 6 "The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive"; Class 9, Ch 7 "Elections"; Class 11, Ch 3 "Election and Representation"; Class 11, Ch 4 "Executive"; Class 11, Ch 5 "Legislature"
Meaning
In an indirect election, the people do not vote for the office-holder themselves. Instead, the representatives they have already elected make the choice. In India this method is used for the President, the Vice-President, Rajya Sabha members and most members of state legislative councils. These elections use the single transferable vote (STV), a system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference.
Example
The President is chosen by an electoral college made up of the elected MPs and the elected MLAs of the states, including Delhi and Puducherry (Arts. 54-55). Ordinary voters do not cast a vote for the President.
Don't confuse with
- Direct election: here voters choose the representative themselves, as for the Lok Sabha, assemblies, panchayats and municipalities.
Related concepts
- Direct election
- Free and fair elections
- Universal adult franchise
- 61st Constitutional Amendment Act 1988
- Right to vote
- Secret ballot