Does age influence election results?

During spring,the finely-chopped grass with the newly-blossomed daisies scattered through it creates an Eden. Similarly,the experience of the old along with the freshness of the youth will create a government that will take our country to the heights of glory and success. As seen in elections,age of the candidates influences the results.

Universe adult franchise is certainly a boon. At 18,an individual is mature enough to not get influenced by people. They take fairly mature decisions. Age symbolises the thinking ability of an individual. And today,due to the vast exposure,thanks to the media,that maturity is reached much earlier. Thus,age matters because only with age and maturity we can elect the right people.
Madhur G Singh,Class IX
Delhi Public School,R K Puram

2 The dictionary defines elections as a decision-making process through which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office. It is a process organised every five years since Independence.

Elections have also been a significant cultural aspect of independent India. But they have always been a formality rather than a duty towards the nation. People are contend with spending time at home,enjoying with the family,rather than going out and making use of their political rights. This is only because of the absence of youth from the electoral system.

Young Indians generally show enthusiasm to vote for the development of the nation.

But according to a research,young people in India are less likely to vote,middle age people are more likely to vote,and the elderly are most likely to vote. I,being a teenager,feel this is the case not because the young voters are irresponsible but because they are not aware of the importance of elections. Researches also show that people generally vote for young candidates rather than old ones.

Going by the above factors,it is clear that age does play a role in the electoral process.
Kaumudi Joshi,X C
Apeejay School,Pitampura

3 Recently,the Indian general elections,the biggest democratic exercise in the world,were held on a high note,with two prime ministerial candidates being Congress’s Manmohan Singh (76) and BJP’s LK Advani (81).

Age is a pivotal factor in the elections in which ‘years’ separate the two major parties in their thinking,decision-making and nation-building agendas.

John McCain’s age was an important factor in the historic victory of America’s 48-year-old President Barack Obama. Age plays an important role from the voter’s perspective also.

Around 65 per cent of India’s population is under the age of 35 years. Political parties cannot afford to ignore this essential vote bank and are prompt in making the use of Internet for online campaigns,basically to lure the youth. Youth are the future of the country. They have fresh ideas about shaping the world around them,and their ideas must be respected to build a progressive society.
Udit Handa,X D
Delhi Public School,Sushant Lok

4 The Indian electorate is slowly becoming more involved in the electoral process by turning out to vote in huge numbers,as seen in the just-concluded elections.

But the dilemma,which we face today,is whether to go with the aged and the experienced or the young and the politically juvenile.

In a task as gigantic and as diverse as running a country,I would go with the experienced and aged than the young,who lack political maturity.

Age is important but only if the candidate is capable,willing and corruption-free.

We have witnessed regimes of many elderly prime ministers,the latest being Atal Behari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh. They have shown us what good governance means,and that age is not an encumbrance but rather contributes to their profiles as the highest among the executive,and the political heads of the world’s largest democracy,our beloved India.
Sahil Sharma,X E
Delhi Public School,Dwarka

5 Age is actually the most important factor in the politics of any country. It plays a key role in governing and framing the future of a nation.

If we look at Barack Obama’s council of ministers,we see that young people are holding prominent positions. In India,it is mostly the aged and the experienced who are always kept on the forefront. However,in the recently concluded general elections,it was a little different.

In the elections,young candidates contested on many seats and the voters responded enthusiastically.

While age counts and it is good to have young MPs,it does not mean we should have an illiterate 30-year-old prime minister. Education also matters.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh,though old,is a former RBI chief. I would like to conclude that age is important in politics but only if it is clubbed with literacy,enthusiasm and determination to take the nation to great heights.
Akhil Anand,VI A
Apeejay School,Saket

6 Well,age indeed is an important factor in the electoral process. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was not very old when he took over the reins of the government. He wanted the voice of young India to be given importance,as they are the future and can decide better that who should lead India.

The young brains of India think fresh and their decisions are more appropriate than those of any other age group.

Besides voters,the age of the candidates is also important. A young leader would think the way the young people of the country think. He will take the country to new heights,whereas the elderly leaders just think about how they can make maximum profit before they die.

If we choose a leader who is young,then definitely he will match up to our expectations,ideas and dreams,as he will have the perfect idea of what the young people of the country (more then 50 per cent of the population) want.

So,I would conclude that age is very important in elections but it should be given importance along with other things.
Tanvi Varshney ,X A
Delhi Public School,Sushant Lok

7 Elections in India are considered to be the backbone of the Indian democracy. Being a Parliamentary Republic,the citizens of India are trusted with the responsibility to choose the head of the country as well as those of the states. Elections in India often transcend from being a mere political activity to a highly-publicised and often sensationalised national event,with cultural ramifications.

All Indian citizens above the age of 18 are eligible to vote. But why only those above the age of 18?

Election decides the composition of the government,the membership of the two Houses of Parliament,the legislative Assemblies of the states and Union Territories,and the presidency and vice-presidency.

According to researches,a human being’s physical,mental and intellectual growth stops at the age of 18.

To elect the right person is our responsibility towards our nation. Even a single vote means a lot in a democracy. A single vote can change the government and the regulatory system prevailing around. Voting can change the future of our country,so we must vote for the country’s sake. The youth power definitely plays a major role in deciding the government but it should know who the right person to vote is.
Apoorva Gulati,IX C
Apeejay School,Pitampura