LEARN · PRACTISE · DISCOVER
Elections and Voting
In a democracy, elections are how citizens choose their leaders and hold them accountable. Elections decide who makes laws, who leads the government and, at the local level, who runs your town or city. In this lesson you will learn how elections work and how to be a smart, informed voter, even before you are old enough to vote.
What makes an election free and fair?
Not every election is truly democratic. Free and fair elections usually have these features:
- Regular elections held at set times
- Universal suffrage: all adult citizens can vote, regardless of gender, race, religion or wealth
- Secret ballot: people vote privately, so no one can pressure or punish them for their choice
- Real choice: more than one candidate or party can compete
- Free campaigning: candidates can share their ideas and the media can report freely
- Honest counting: votes are counted accurately and results are respected
The right to vote
The voting age is 18 in most countries, but it varies. Some countries, such as Austria, allow voting from 16 in national elections, and some others set different ages for local elections. The right to vote has expanded over time; in many countries, women won the vote only in the twentieth century after long campaigns.
How elections work
Candidates and political parties
Candidates are people who run for office. Many belong to political parties, groups of people with shared ideas who work together to win elections and pass laws. Parties publish platforms or manifestos that explain what they plan to do.
Campaigns
During a campaign, candidates try to persuade voters through speeches, debates, adverts, social media and meeting people. Debates let voters compare candidates’ ideas directly.
Different voting systems
| System | How it works | Example countries |
|---|---|---|
| First past the post | the candidate with the most votes in each area wins | United Kingdom, Canada, India |
| Proportional representation | parties win seats in proportion to their share of the vote | Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand (a mixed system) |
| Two-round system | if no one wins a majority, a second vote is held between the top candidates | France (presidential elections) |
Each system has trade-offs. People debate which is best, and some countries have changed their system over time.
Being an informed voter
Campaign messages are designed to persuade. Informed voters check information carefully.
Example
A campaign advert claims: “Our candidate will cut your taxes in half!” An informed voter asks: Whose taxes? How will the government pay for services? What do independent fact-checkers and multiple news sources say? Asking these questions does not mean the claim is false; it means you are thinking critically.
Questions to ask
- What is the source, and does it have a reason to persuade me?
- Is there evidence, such as data or expert analysis?
- What do several reliable sources from different perspectives say?
- Am I reacting to facts or to emotional language?
Young people and elections
Even before you can vote, you can learn about candidates, discuss issues with family, and in some places help at polling stations or join youth wings of community groups.
Key takeaways
- Free and fair elections are regular, secret, competitive and honestly counted.
- The voting age is usually 18, but it varies between countries.
- Candidates and parties campaign using platforms, debates and media.
- Informed voters check sources and evidence before deciding.
Practice
1. Why is a secret ballot important? 2. Name two features of a free and fair election. 3. Write two questions you would ask about a campaign claim.
Answers: 1 it lets people vote freely without pressure, threats or punishment. 2 any two, such as regular elections, universal suffrage, real choice, free campaigning or honest counting. 3 for example: “What is the evidence?” and “What do independent sources say?”