Question

Active participation of citizens is an essential component of a healthy democracy.

Of the options given below, which tools can be used by citizens to communicate with the government and/or participate in the democratic process?

• A. Forming NGOs to aid, critique, and review government policies
• B. Creating political parties to actively oppose the ruling party in the upcoming elections
• C. Sending letters to newspapers to express concern over major government decisions
• D. Casting multiple votes for the same election and coercing people to vote for the party you support

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (C)

Sending letters to newspapers to express concern over major government decisions

Television, radio, newspapers and the internet can be considered as media tools to express opinions. Similarly, forming NGOs and creating new political parties are both great ways of expressing popular aspirations and participating in the democratic process.

However, casting multiple votes, stuffing the ballot, tampering with the Electronic Voting Machine, and coercing voters are all unethical practices, and would go against the ideal of holding free and fair elections.