NSS Wing of the Uttaranchal University organized ‘Awareness Campaign’ on “Election Reforms” on 3 November, 2018. Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of all forms of democracy. In many representative democracies, elections are practically the only means whereby citizens/voters can participate and hold the political parties, candidates and the incumbent governments accountable for their promises and performance. Given that there are generally no legal or constitutional grounds for monitoring or requirement for politicians to meet electoral promises, elections are often the only opportunity that citizens have to reward or punish candidates on the basis of their integrity and performance. Around the world, however, and especially in transitional and nascent democracies, free, fair and peaceful elections are far from the norm. Lack of electoral transparency and accountability, the use of money or violence to influence or intimidate voters and the criminalization of politics are critical problems in many parts of the world. While participatory governance promotes many forms of citizen participation beyond voting, free and fair elections are nevertheless a fundamental element of democracy and good governance. The tools in this category are aimed at fostering electoral and political accountability while also seeking to empower voters to effectively participate in the electoral process and enable them to make informed choices. NSS Wing of the Uttaranchal University commenced the event to spread awareness among people regarding Electoral Reforms.
