Social Science · Class 9

Active learning ideas

Election Campaign, Polling, and Counting

Take your students behind the headlines and into the machinery of the world's largest democracy. This topic unpacks the journey from a candidate's campaign promise to the final election result.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• NCERT Class 9 Social Science: Democratic Politics – I, Chapter 3

• 30–90 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Simulation Game
• 90 min · Whole Class

Mock Election Day

Divide the class into political parties, polling officers, and voters. Parties create manifestos and campaign, after which a mock polling day is conducted using handmade ballot boxes or a simple digital tool to simulate EVMs.

Analyse the role of the Model Code of Conduct during election campaigns.

Facilitation Tip

Appoint a student-led 'Election Commission' to enforce a classroom Model Code of Conduct.

What to look for

A 'Fact or Fiction' quiz where students must identify true and false statements about the Model Code of Conduct and EVM procedures.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 45 min · Small Groups

Campaign Material Analysis

Students collect or are given examples of real election campaign materials like posters, video clips, or social media posts. In small groups, they analyse these materials for persuasive techniques and check for any potential violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

Explain the procedure of polling and counting of votes using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Facilitation Tip

Provide a simplified checklist of the Model Code of Conduct for students to use as a reference.

What to look for

Students write a newspaper report detailing the election process in a fictional constituency, covering the campaign, polling day activities, and the final vote counting.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Simulation Game
• 30 min · Pairs

EVM and VVPAT Flowchart

Students work in pairs to create a visual flowchart that illustrates the step-by-step process of casting a vote using an EVM and how the VVPAT slip is generated and used for verification.

Compare different methods of election campaigning used by political parties.

Facilitation Tip

Show a short official video from the Election Commission of India's website to provide a clear visual model first.

What to look for

Students complete a K-W-L (Know, Want to know, Learned) chart about the Indian election process before and after the topic is taught to reflect on their learning.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

Begin with a relatable event, like a recent election that students may have heard about. Use official videos from the Election Commission of India to visually demonstrate how EVMs and VVPATs work. Facilitate a classroom debate on an imaginary campaign issue to make the concept of campaigning and the Model Code of Conduct more engaging and tangible for students.

Upon completing this topic, your students will be able to explain the entire electoral process in India and critically analyse the rules and technologies that make it free and fair.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can be easily hacked or tampered with.

  EVMs are standalone machines not connected to the internet or any network, which makes remote hacking impossible. They have a one-time programmable chip, and undergo rigorous checks, randomisation, and mock polls in front of party representatives before use. The VVPAT system further allows for verification.

• The party that gets the most votes across the whole country wins the election.

  India uses a 'First Past the Post' system for Lok Sabha elections. The country is divided into 543 constituencies, and the candidate who gets the most votes in a single constituency wins that seat. The party or coalition that wins the majority of seats (272+), not necessarily the majority of total votes, forms the government.

• The Model Code of Conduct is a law passed by the Parliament.

  The Model Code of Conduct is not a law but a set of guidelines agreed upon by all political parties and enforced by the Election Commission of India. While its provisions may not have direct legal punishments, the ECI has the constitutional power to take action against violations to ensure free and fair elections.

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Methods used in this brief

• Simulation Game