On which ground/s a voter may be disqualified ?
(A) Non-residence
(B) Crime
(C) Corrupt or illegal practice
(D) Unsoundness of mind

Question

On which ground/s a voter may be disqualified ? 
(A) Non-residence 
(B) Crime 
(C) Corrupt or illegal practice 
(D) Unsoundness of mind

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The correct option is 4, which includes all the grounds listed: (A) Non-residence, (B) Crime, (C) Corrupt or illegal practice, and (D) Unsoundness of mind. In many democratic frameworks, including that of India which governs the context of this political science examination question, the right to vote is fundamental but not absolute; it is subject to statutory qualifications and disqualifications designed to maintain the purity and integrity of the electoral process.

**Non-residence (A)** is a primary statutory ground for disqualification, specifically concerning inclusion in the electoral roll. An individual must be "ordinarily resident" in a constituency to be registered as a voter there. If a person ceases to be a resident of that area, their name may be removed from the electoral roll, effectively disqualifying them from voting in that constituency. **Unsoundness of mind (D)** is another explicit constitutional and statutory disqualification. A person declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind and thereby incapable of managing their affairs is typically disqualified from voting, as the act of voting requires basic cognitive capacity to make an informed choice. **Crime (B)**, particularly specific categories of criminal offenses, and **Corrupt or illegal practice (C)** are major grounds for disqualification under electoral laws, such as India's Representation of the People Act (RPA). The RPA lists various electoral offenses (like bribery, undue influence, or impersonation) and crimes leading to moral turpitude. If a person is convicted of certain offenses and sentenced to a specific term of imprisonment, they are disqualified from voting for the period of imprisonment plus a further period after release. Corrupt practices, even if they don't result in a criminal conviction, often lead to a specific period of disqualification from voting and contesting elections by order of the President or the Election Commission. Since all four conditions (A, B, C, and D) represent valid legal grounds for disqualifying a person from being registered as a voter or exercising the right to vote, Option 4, which includes all of them, is the comprehensive and correct choice.

The incorrect option is 1:

Option 1, "Only A and B" (Non-residence and Crime), is incorrect because it fails to account for the other two significant and universally recognized grounds for voter disqualification: corrupt practices and unsoundness of mind. Electoral disqualifications are designed not just to ensure that the voter meets residential criteria or is not a serious criminal, but also that they possess the mental capacity and ethical integrity necessary for democratic participation. Disqualifying grounds pertaining to mental competence (Unsoundness of mind) and breaches of electoral integrity (Corrupt or illegal practice) are core components of electoral law, rendering a selection that omits them incomplete and factually insufficient.

The incorrect option is 2:

Option 2, "Only A and C" (Non-residence and Corrupt or illegal practice), is incorrect because it overlooks the disqualifications related to criminal convictions and mental competence. While non-residence ensures local connection and corrupt practices maintain the fairness of the election, laws must also address the exclusion of individuals who have demonstrated a severe lack of public morality through serious crimes, or those who lack the cognitive ability to exercise judgment. Excluding grounds B (Crime) and D (Unsoundness of mind) makes this option incomplete, as a person can certainly be disqualified on these grounds alone, even if A and C are not applicable to their case.

The incorrect option is 3:

Option 3, "Only B and D" (Crime and Unsoundness of mind), is incorrect as it arbitrarily excludes two fundamental bases for disqualification: non-residence and corrupt practices. Non-residence is the most frequently applied technical ground for removal from the voter list, ensuring that people vote in the jurisdiction where they actually live. Corrupt or illegal practices are essential disqualifiers aimed at punishing those who undermine the democratic process itself through unethical means. Any set of grounds that fails to mention non-residence or corrupt practices cannot be deemed the full and correct answer to the question regarding all possible grounds for disqualification.