A Comparative Analysis: 2024 National Elections in the U.S. and India

With 2024 already here, the world turns towards the upcoming national elections in two of the world’s largest democracies: The United States and India. Both republics boast complex political systems with levels of national, state, and local government. In this blog, we will delve into the electoral processes at the national level of both countries, dissecting the intricacies, similarities, and differences between these systems of governance.

Foundation of Election Process in India and U.S.

The United States has one of the world’s oldest electoral processes, dating back to the nation’s first election in 1788. Meanwhile India’s first General elections after independence were from 1951 to 1952. Anticipation is building for both country’s national elections scheduled for May in India and the 5th of November in the U.S of this year. Both countries have three branches of national government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. In the two countries, The Judicial Branch appointments are made by their respective Presidents, but the elections hold the key in deciding the leaders of the Executive and Legislative branches.

In Depth Overview of National Elections of the U.S. for the Executive Branch

At the helm of the Executive Branch are the President, Vice President, and various departments entrusted with steering the nation’s course. All U.S. citizens aged 18 and older hold the right to cast their ballots in this election, choosing a candidate to assume the roles of Head of State and Government. A presidential administration’s term spans four years, with a maximum limit of two consecutive terms. Every quadrennial cycle, citizens engage in the unique Electoral College process, where they cast their votes for Presidential candidates based on their respective districts of residence. Next, each elector reflective of the popular vote within each district, votes for the President and Vice President. Sometimes, electors will vote against their district’s popular vote, but these instances are rare and frowned upon. The Party that has more electoral votes in a particular state will win that state. For example, the State of Missouri has ten votes, and if Candidate A gets six votes and Candidate B gets four votes, then Candidate A will win all ten votes from Missouri. The total number of electoral votes in the United States are 538 representing each district in the country. Ultimately, the Party that secures a majority of the electoral vote, 270 out of 538, clinches victory and the leader will be inaugurated on January 20th, 2025 as the new President of the United States.

In Depth Overview of National Elections of the U.S. for the Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch is the U.S. Congress which consists of two chambers, The House of Representatives and The Senate. The U.S. Senate serves as the upper house in Congress. Each state is represented by two Senators, totalling up to 100 Senators on the Federal level. Each Senator serves for a term of six years, with one-third being re-elected every two years. The House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress, and they represent each congressional district in every state. The number of representatives is based on a state’s population. The most populous state, California, has over 51 Representatives, while the least populous state, Wyoming, has only 1 Representative. Overall, there are 435 House of Representatives in the entire U.S. with each serving two-year terms. This November, all Representatives will stand for re-election. The 17th Amendment of the U.S. in 1913 allowed for direct vote of Senators, and the House of Representatives has been elected by a direct vote since 1789.

In Depth Overview of Elections in the Republic of India on the National Level

The Republic of India, the largest Democracy in the world, has a vast political system across all levels. This is an overview of how the election process works on the central level in India. Similar to The United States, India also has an Executive and Legislative branch that goes for re-election, but there are vast differences between both of them.

First the Legislative Branch of India is known as Parliament with a bicameral chamber consisting of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and Lok Sabha (Lower House). With 250 Rajya Sabha members, they represent different states and union territories and are elected by means of indirect vote by State Legislatures known as MLA’s (Members of Legislative Assembly) for six years with one-third retiring every two years. With 250 members, Rajya Sabha plays a big role in legislation, but they mostly look out for state needs.

The President of India serves as the ceremonial Head of State and is voted indirectly by members of the Lok and Rajya Sabha collectively. When people think of the national election of India, it is done through the Lok Sabha. Every 5 years, there is a general election in the Lok Sabha, and this year it will be in May 2024, where every adult citizen of India aged 18 and older can vote. The maximum number of Lok Sabha MP’s (Member of Parliament) is 552, who each represent a district in a state or union territory. The leader of a political party or coalition that wins the most seats in the Lok Sabha will be anointed as the next Prime Minister who is the Head of Government.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 2024 national elections in the United States and India offer their compelling democratic processes, showcasing both nations’ political landscapes. While the United States’ Federal Republic and India’s parliamentary democracy differ in structure and implementation, they both commit to democratic principles and the exercise of citizens’ rights. Ultimately, the comparative analysis of these elections highlights the worldwide values of democracy while celebrating the unique institutional frameworks that govern these two great democracies.