In this article you will learn about the Indirect Election in Political Science.
Indirect Election
An indirect election is an election in which the voters do not elect their representatives directly. When people elect their representatives through some intermediatories, the election system is designated as indirect election. For example, in the USA, the people elect an electoral college and this institution then elects the US President and Vice-President. Likewise in India also, the President is elected indirectly. The people elect their MPs and MLAs who then elect the President of India. The members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha together elect the Vice-President of India. Further, the members of Rajya Sabha are also elected indirectly. They are elected by the members of each State Legislative Assembly i.e. by the MLAs of a state.
When the people elect the members of an electoral college and thereafter these elected members elect the representatives of the people, the system is called Indirect Election.
Indirect Election is considered to be less democratic as it does not involve a direct link between the people and their representatives. However, this method is used for electing some representatives who occupy the highest public offices of a state. It is used to eliminate the chances of great tumults and disorders which usually accompany a direct election. It is also used because it involves a better process of screening and judging the abilities of the candidates who are seeking elections. However, by every standard direct election is better than indirect election.
Merits of Indirect Election or Arguments in favour of Indirect Election
1. Election of Good and Competent Representatives : In an indirect election, the people elect a group of electors which then elects the representatives. The group of electors acts as a screen for making a proper judgement about the abilities of the contesting candidates. It elects the most competent candidates as the representative of the people.
2. An Indirect Election also involves a Direct Election : An indirect election also begins with the voters directly electing a group of electors, which then elects the representative of the people. Thus, indirect election also involves the merit of a direct election.
3. Indirect Election is less noisy and more orderly : Indirect election of a representative causes less disorder and noise. The people elect the group of electors which has several hundred members. All the people get their delegates elected to it. This group then elects the representative of the people in an orderly and peaceful manner. Direct election is mostly a disorderly, wasteful and irritating election and an indirect election is free from all these problems.
This article on Indirect Election in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.